Skypark in Shenzhen

FUSION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN LANDSCAPE

SKYPARK RECREATIONAL URBAN STRIP IN SHENZHEN

The previously unutilised 1.2 km long rooftop of the southern terminal and depot building of Shenzhen‘s Metro Line 2 has been converted into a vibrant sports- and playscape. Activity areas are an invitation to local schools and clubs for competitive and non-competitive use, and recreation areas serve as meeting places for locals, complemented by panoramic views of Shenzhen Bay. Crossboundaries teamed up with the Shenzhen Nanshan District Government.

Location Shenzen, China Architects Crossboundaries CN – 100027 Beijing www.crossboundaries. com Author Crossboundaries Official opening July 2021 Construction costs circa CNY 170 million (circa EUR 24 million)

In the last 40 years, Shenzhen has developed from a tiny fishing village into a 17-million population megalopolis. More than a third of its very young population – averaging just under 30 – lives in these densely populated metropolitan surroundings. With Shenzhen’s pleasant year-round climate, the outdoor recreational spaces can be utilised to their fullest extent.

With an overall height of about 15 m, a width of 70 m at its widest and 50 m at its narrowest point, the original complex completely cut off nearby neighbourhoods from the bay. One of the challenges was to accommodate the needs of different user groups: firstly to improve the quality of physical education at the surrounding schools; secondly to provide places for the general public to enjoy leisure activities; and thirdly to establish facilities for professional sports events and competitions with spectators.

Contextual consistency – macro, meso and micro level The architects started by reviewing the project’s overall urban context (macro). They continued by gradually zooming in on the local circumstances of the site, examining the surrounding educational, commercial and residential facilities in relation to potential access as well as links between the river and the bay area (meso). Finally, on the given design site, they also reassessed the existing building of the metro terminal, including its parking (micro).

The next consideration was how to integrate the new sports and leisure zone into its surroundings, and how to connect it with residential and educational buildings. The

implementation of flyovers, bridges and corridors was not part of the initial review, nor of the first construction phase.

The overall roof surface area of 73,000 m² was earmarked for spatial solutions, for both open and enclosed zones, to permit more dynamic activities such as sport, competition and their supporting facilities, as well as more static, „peaceful“ ones such as recreation or the enjoyment of nature.

Intertwined programmatic functions – a catalytic platform The plot was subdivided into three programmatic zones for the three different user groups, all of which tightly mesh with their immediate surroundings: one for the general public, for social & cultural interaction; one for use solely by the adjacent schools, fulfilling educational functions; finally, one for local professional sports clubs (tennis and volleyball in particular), for training activities and the hosting of competitions with spectators.

All three user scenarios can take place in parallel. The dedicated areas can be closed off for a limited audience or opened up to a wider one at certain times. Each of the programmatic areas has been developed with a varied and balanced mix of sports, leisure, support & service (changing rooms, coach and referee areas), as well as green functions, resulting in an overall integrated sports- and playscape.

The local schools have five tennis and six basketball courts at their disposal, as well as two five-a-side pitches, including several running tracks (460 m, 160 m and a 200 m straight one). The competition and training area for

professionals has been equipped with two lawn courts, six competition tennis courts, four training and two clay courts, and two volleyball courts. The community segment features green areas as well as a full-size soccer pitch.

Access and connections All entrances and accesses are located in direct vicinity to different functional areas, served by a total of six access points. Vertical connections make the north and the south ends directly accessible from the ground floor, inviting the general public up onto the roof.

The school is accessed exclusively via crossovers, leading directly onto the rooftop. They are attached to three secondary public entrances, in the form of elevators and staircases, for additional access from the street level.

On the rooftop itself, circulation is facilitated by three main paths – leisure path, pedestrian path and sports path (running / skating) – that occasionally intersect, connect and “grow” into other functions. The paths are also distinguished by their materials. Most of the pedestrian walkway is made of stone pavement, while the leisure trail is mainly of wood and the sports track has a rubber surface.

Providing orientation on a human scale The wayfinding and signage system along the very long strip is designed to facilitate navigation and overcome the potentially repetitive character of an extremely linear site.

Signage pylons are placed at 100 m intervals along the strip, indicating the facilities located in that section and giving an idea of one’s position relative to the north and the south entrance. At the top of the pylons are numbers marking the distance one has walked.

Signs identify specific destinations within those 100 m marks. They define meeting points, whilst at the same time serving as functional objects, in the form of benches, light cubes, garbage cans, and the like.

The partially elevated recreational trail not only integrates the supporting facilities, but is also an excellent place to view competitions and training sessions and to enjoy the views of Shenzhen Bay.