Super-position Cities

Super-position Cities

The exhibition "Super-position Cities" emerged from an intense collaboration with the City of Shenzhen, debuting at the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture (UABB) in December 2020. It spotlighted Shenzhen’s identity as a densely populated urban landscape marked by innovative urbanism, reflective of its vibrant cultural and environmental tapestry. Within this context, MVRDV's contribution, "MVRDV x Shenzhen: 15 years of Innovative Architecture," offered a futuristic outlook shaped by MVRDV's experiences across Shenzhen, with a focal point on the Qianhai New District—a hub for modern services and economic growth.

This showcase of MVRDV's architectural endeavours in Shenzhen from 2005 to 2020 provided a window into the city's rapid evolution, grappling with spatial constraints such as sea expansion, urban sprawl, and vertical densification. It highlighted Shenzhen's role as a pioneering urban laboratory at the dawn of the 21st century, shedding light on how MVRDV's work intersects with these challenges, thus contributing to the dynamic fabric of the city.

To immerse visitors in a surreal dreamscape, MVRDV's design enveloped them in a cityscape projected onto walls and floors, accompanied by physical models scaled to room size. The original concept for the exhibition design included the use of fog hovering above the pavement, creating an ethereal experience reminiscent of a dreamlike scenario. However, as the design evolved, it became evident that the stark contrast between the shadowy room and the brightly illuminated white model was itself sufficient to produce the desired effect. Models such as these, featuring MVRDV's 21 projects alongside videos and descriptions, offered profound insights into both MVRDV's evolution and Shenzhen's urban narrative, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination.


MVRDV founding partner, Winy Maas, describes the exhibition as "a manifestation of a city unlike any other—an ever-evolving metropolis that embodies remarkable progress and innovation. The designs, though mostly conceptual, create an otherworldly experience, inviting viewers into a realm where the tangible and the fantastical coalesce seamlessly."

Part of the 2020 Qianhai Future Urbanism/Architecture Exhibition, this showcase spotlighted six renowned firms shaping Shenzhen's urban fabric, emphasising the intricate interplay between individual architectural elements and the broader urban ecosystem. It underscored both Shenzhen's extraordinary trajectory and MVRDV's role as a creative catalyst, extending beyond physical structures to foster critical urban perspectives and prototypical approaches to urban development.

MVRDV's ongoing collaborations in Shenzhen, from the Idea Factory in Nantou, to the Shenzhen Women and Children’s Centre and to Tencent P5, encompass a spectrum of projects ranging from small office refurbishments to large residential towers to masterplans. Each project has left an indelible mark on the cityscape, exploring themes of urban identity, design innovation, community engagement, and environmental integration within high-rise structures.

Gallery

UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
201218 UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
UABB Exhibit - Opening
Section
Floorplan
Axo
Axo
Render
Render
Render
Render
Open configuration
Open configuration
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Credit achtergrond

Credits

Architect
Founding Partner in Charge
Design Team
Project Coordinator
Interior Architect
Graphic Design

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