The eight blocks that make up Vanke 3D City are designed to strike a balance between architectural diversity and cohesiveness, with each displaying a different façade treatment. Each block corresponds to a keyword inspired by the core values of Vanke: ‘health’, ‘energy’, ‘open’, ‘team’, ‘green’, ‘nature’, ‘future’, and ‘creative’. Four of the blocks also have either an indent on one façade or a hole that punctures the entire depth of the block, creating ‘windows to the world’ that house atriums, parks, and plazas. These semi-public spaces combine with green spaces on the exposed roofs of each block to create a rich network of recreational areas.

“Vanke 3D City can be seen as a new type of skyscraper. By stacking the required programmatic entities, initially proposed for two separate plots, on top of each other, the two individual Vanke Group Headquarter buildings are turned into a Vanke City”, says Winy Maas, principal and co-founder of MVRDV. “They turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.”

Maas adds: “By opening the buildings, a series of giant collective halls are created with a view over the bay and to the world. The plazas, gardens, and halls are connected by a series of stairs and elevators, linking the many blocks into a continuous urban fabric high off the ground—a true three-dimensional city.”

The ambition to design the skyscraper of the future is matched by the proposal’s collection of sustainability features. In addition to the many green roofs formed by the tower’s cluster shape, the green park at the tower’s base aligns with Shenzhen’s ‘sponge city’ program, which encourages porous landscapes to prevent flooding and reduce the city’s impact on ecosystems. In addition, the design includes systems for water collection and recycling, and while each block features a different façade design, all use high-performance façades.

MVRDV is collaborating with engineers Arup. Preparation work on the site is already underway, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2019.