The renovation of the Shenzhen Women and Children’s Building is now complete. MVRDV has transformed this aging structure into a vibrant, colorful skyscraper that houses a variety of public service facilities catering to women and children, alongside hotels, restaurants, and other supporting amenities.
This multifunctional high-rise includes a children’s exploration hall, a picture book museum, infant and toddler care services, a women’s theater, an exhibition hall dedicated to women, family services, and additional supporting facilities. Its lively exterior injects fresh energy into Shenzhen’s Futian District, establishing a new architectural landmark.
Crucially, this 100-meter tall renovation project exemplifies Shenzhen’s growing trend towards “adaptive reuse” in urban renewal.
Originally constructed in 1994 during Shenzhen’s initial rapid growth phase, the building no longer met contemporary standards. The exterior’s environmental performance lagged behind modern requirements, and the internal layout could not adequately support the evolving needs of women, children, and families. Additionally, some facilities had become outdated and deteriorated over time.
In 2019, aligning with China’s commitment to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, the Women and Children’s Building underwent a major renovation. By 2022, it became one of 24 exemplary projects recognized by the National Development and Reform Commission for activating existing assets and boosting effective investment.
To address the building’s challenges, MVRDV implemented a comprehensive renovation strategy focused on reusing the existing structure, which offers greater sustainability compared to demolition and rebuilding. This approach introduced a new facade system: a colorful grid frame that extends the facade by nearly one meter in depth, providing extra shading to reduce heat gain. Inside, operable panels facilitate natural ventilation, enhancing user comfort while decreasing reliance on air conditioning.
Beyond the facade, MVRDV made several key changes to the original structure. A large accessible terrace was added where visitors can relax or participate in social activities. The original courtyard, once a parking lot, was transformed into a fully open public space to create a more welcoming environment. Furthermore, the subway entrance was relocated from the street to within the building, enhancing connectivity to public transport and encouraging sustainable commuting.
The original building contained approximately 24,000 cubic meters of concrete, with nearly 80% of it preserved in the renovation. The carbon emissions saved by reusing the structure are equivalent to those generated by 11,800 flights between Amsterdam and Shenzhen. Additionally, MVRDV streamlined the original layout, creating a simpler and more efficient design.
The facade’s color palette—featuring yellow, orange, pink, and green—reflects the building’s diverse functions. The vibrant podium colors emphasize the building’s primary role serving women and children, while the high-rise tower, housing hotels, showcases a more neutral white facade.
On the ground level, the building’s four main entrances are each distinguished by different colors, serving as wayfinding elements that welcome visitors with bright hues and a friendly atmosphere.
Project Information
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Facade color scheme
△ Analysis chart
△ Analysis chart
△ Analysis chart
Project Information
Architect: MVRDV
Area: 57,900 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Summer Solstice
Lead Partner: Jacob van Rijs
Partner: Wenchian Shi
MVRDV Asia Regional Managers: Steven Smit, Peter Chang
Design Team: Lorenzo Mattozzi, Marco Gazzola, Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Daehee Suk, Fredy Fortich, Chi Zhang, Bertrand Tan, Siyi Pan, Albert Parfonov, Andrius Ribikauskas, Enrica Perrot, Martina Franco, Jiameng Li, Agnieszka Dabek, Paula Vargas Torres, Elisa Paneni, Peter Chang, Luca Xu, Hong Yang, Echo Zhai, Zhang Ruochen, Leo Zhang, Huang Cai, Peilu Chen, Xiaoliang Yu, Americo Iannazzone, Yihong Chen, Kefei Yan, Edvan Ardianto
Indoor & Landscape Design: Lorenzo Mattozzi, Fokke Moerel, Pim Bangert, Giovanni Nardi, Daehee Suk, Jiameng Li, Bertrand Tan, Paula Vargas Torres, Luca Xu
MVRDV NEXT: Boudewijn Thomas, Yayun Liu, Changqing Ye
Project Collaboration: Shenzhen Women & Children’s Building Operation and Management Co., Ltd.
Visualization Design: Antonio Luca Coco, Angelo La Delfa, Pavlos Ventouris, Francesco Vitale, Luana La Martina, Jaroslaw Jeda, Emanuele Fortunati
Copyright: MVRDV Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de Vries
Collaborative Architect / Landscape Architect / Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: SZAD
Facade Consultant: Jinxia Property Cost Consultation Co., Ltd.
Structural Engineer: BPI (Brandston Partnership Inc.)
Lighting Consultant: Yuanlizhu Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd.
Cost Calculation: KGE (King Glass Engineering)
Interior Architect: Jiang & Associates
Location: Shenzhen
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