Shenzhen North Railway Station stands as a pivotal transportation hub in the Greater Bay Area, welcoming travelers from across the globe and introducing them to the vibrant city of Shenzhen. Soon, upon exiting the station, visitors will be greeted by Shenzhen’s new iconic gateway—a dynamic, multi-dimensional cultural and sports complex integrated with urban parkland, blending green spaces, humanistic values, and advanced technology.
This visionary project, known as the “Shenzhen Super Core Green Core,” is designed by MAD Architecture under the guidance of Ma Yansong and is currently under construction in Shenzhen’s Longhua District.
The “Digital Longhua” has emerged as a distinctive symbol for the Longhua District. As Longhua’s world-class urban living room, the Shenzhen Super Core Green Core will serve as a vital link for urban connectivity and a defining image for the city of Shenzhen.
Spanning approximately 110,000 square meters, the site is intersected by subway Line 5, the planned Shenhui Line, and the Pingnan Railway running beneath. To minimize disruptions and accommodate diverse building functions, MAD’s design elevates the Digital Exploration Pavilion above ground, creating a striking city gate landmark and an exceptional urban observation platform.
Ma Yansong explains, “We envisioned the entire site as a vast park, seamlessly integrating complex functions and underground transit needs. The Digital Exploration Pavilion rises above the cityscape, becoming a regional focal point and a space for dialogue between earth and sky.”
The project evokes the atmosphere of a science fiction film set in Shenzhen: a “super nuclear star” descends from the sky and settles here. This dialogue between the celestial “super nuclear star” and the naturally evolving “earth” forms a multifunctional urban living room filled with imaginative energy.
Visitors can reach the core of this “celestial body”—the Digital Exploration Hall—via a cable car located at the southwest corner of the site. Inside, citizens can immerse themselves in cutting-edge digital technologies, fully embodying the concept of “Digital Longhua.”
The Exploration Hall’s rooftop is predominantly covered with photovoltaic panels, enhancing the building’s energy efficiency. Additionally, the rooftop observation deck is accessible to the public, offering panoramic views and stargazing opportunities in this dense urban environment.
This structure features an asymmetric four-limbed spatial arch with a maximum span of approximately 400 meters, marking it as the world’s largest span building structure with architectural functionality and the largest multi-limbed spatial arch worldwide.
The earth-covered buildings feature continuous green roofs that form an accessible park for residents. These roofs span approximately 200 meters in diameter and 6 meters in width. The site is interconnected by an energy ring and pedestrian bridge, linking the northern and southern areas with Shenzhen North Station and surrounding neighborhoods, creating a car-free, slow-moving aerial circulation system. This design allows residents to move quickly and conveniently between Shenzhen North Station, Green Core Park, and adjacent areas.
Construction on the Shenzhen Super Core Green Core began in late July this year and is expected to be completed by 2027. Upon completion, the project will achieve a three-star green building certification. Meanwhile, another important cultural landmark in Shenzhen—the Shenzhen Bay Cultural Square, also designed by MAD Ma Yansong and located in Nanshan District—is progressing steadily.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Functional Zoning Diagram
△ Base Schematic Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Type: Cultural and sports facilities, parks
Site Area: 113,304 square meters
Building Area: 161,450 square meters
Lead Partners: Ma Yansong, Party Masses, Yokosuke Hayano
Vice Chief Partner: Fu Changrui
Design Team: He Xin, Li Guangchong, Jiang Yunyao, Qiang Siyang, Lv Dechen, Lei Kaiyun, Yoshio Fukumori, Sun Mingze, Shiko Foo, Ma Yue, Leang Engsea, Yu Nagasaki, Zhuang Fan, Dong Jianghan, Daemin Kang
Construction Unit: Longhua District Construction and Engineering Bureau, Shenzhen
Construction Agency: China Resources Land Urban Operations Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd
Class A Design Institute: Shenzhen Huayang International Engineering Design Co., Ltd
Transportation Consultant: Hongda Transportation Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (MVA)
Structural Design: Shenzhen Huayang International Engineering Design Co., Ltd
Structural Consulting: Arup Engineering Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Branch
Curtain Wall Consultant: Alpha Architectural Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Interior Design: MAD Architecture Firm, Shanghai Modern Architectural Decoration Environment Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd
Floodlight Design: Handu Design Consultant (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd
Acoustics and Theater Stage Design: China Radio and Television Broadcasting, Film and Television Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: MAD Architecture Firm, PLAT Studio Inc., Shenzhen Hanbo Design Co., Ltd
Graphic Format Consultant: CAN DESIGN LIMITED
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up