Liyuan Foreign Language Primary School (Jingtian) is situated in the heart of Shenzhen’s Futian District, surrounded by numerous urban buildings. Originally, the site was a dense forest with overlapping tree canopies resembling a continuous umbrella. Over forty years ago, the area was known as “Cat Neck Field” and served as a camp for infrastructure construction soldiers stationed in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, lined with rows of work sheds.
As the city developed, these sheds were gradually relocated, and the site was used as a soil storage area. The Ficus microcarpa trees planted on this soil have since grown to over 20 meters tall, forming a rare urban oasis, with the natural soil beneath preserved. The project strategy focuses on maximizing the conservation of the original forest and terrain while exploring innovative campus construction within a high-density urban context through a vertical, three-dimensional campus design.
This forest embodies the historical memory of Shenzhen’s decades-long urbanization. Preserving this forest and the natural terrain supports continuity in the city’s spatial development. We believe that a campus embracing this “small forest” offers a unique educational environment where natural elements such as trees, soil, sunlight, wind, and seasonal changes are vividly experienced, creating lasting and meaningful childhood memories for students.
At the design’s outset, the main challenge was to fit a 36-class primary school onto a site with nearly five meters of height difference between north and south, limited space, and dense banyan trees. To preserve this “small forest” to the greatest extent, the traditional comb-shaped layout common in elementary schools was rejected. After thorough analysis, the design opted for a vertically concentrated building footprint, with the main structure positioned centrally to act as a boundary wall enclosing the site, allowing the forest to occupy the campus core.
The vertical sports field system disperses traditional large sports areas across rooftops and semi-underground levels. The running track is elevated, supported only by structural elements, weaving seamlessly with the “small forest,” allowing students to run beneath the tree canopy.
To adapt fully to Shenzhen’s climate and embody a distinctive southern style, the building includes several spacious semi-outdoor public platforms within the dense volume. These platforms offer shelter from rain, sun protection, and ventilation, serving as vital spaces for campus life.
The semi-outdoor platform system connects with the running track at multiple points across the campus. Students and teachers on the track can view city streets through the platform’s openings, while people outside can glimpse the “small forest” inside. Horizontally arranged public platforms, running tracks, and corridors integrate vertically with sports and transportation spaces, creating a comprehensive three-dimensional outdoor activity environment.
An external layer of precast concrete sunshades has been installed on the south, east, and west facades. These sun visors effectively block heat radiation from Shenzhen’s intense sunlight, preventing direct glare inside classrooms while maintaining views and providing soft, natural lighting for both teachers and students.
We believe that space itself is a vital educational tool. This campus, embracing the “small forest,” will offer emotional support to children during their learning and living experience, while also leaving a lasting spatial legacy for the urban development of Futian District.
Project Drawings
△ Model Diagram
△ Design Sketch
△ Design Sketch
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ Fifth Floor Plan
△ Sixth Floor Plan
△ Seventh Floor Plan
△ Eighth Floor Plan
△ Ninth Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Detailed Structural Drawing
Project Information
Architect: Vertical Architecture
Area: 29,061 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographers: Luo Canhui, Zhang Qinquan, Chen Hao, Arch Scholar, DONG Image
Lead Architect: Dong Gong
Project Architects: Feng Chaoying, Chen Zhoujie
Construction Management: Zhao Liangliang, Li Jinteng
Resident Architects: Zhao Ke, Huang Tianzhi, Huang Xiongshen, Zhang Jie, Cheng Yang
Project Team Members: Chen Gong, Tao Wei, Zhao Liangliang, Ma Xiaokai, Guan Shipeng, Gao Raindrop, Lai Jianxi, Li Xiang, Liu Shida, Ai Xin, Qin Chen
Collaborative Design Institute: Shenzhen Huayang International Engineering Design Co., Ltd.
Chief Architect of Collaborative Design Institute: Long Yufeng
Project Architect of Collaborative Design Institute: Chen Yitao
Architects: Liang Yin, Xiong Wei, Lin Xing, Li Pengcheng
Structural Design: Xu Yuming, Wu Yaping, Xiao Zhengjian, Liu Ming
Mechanical and Electrical Design: Chen Juan, Zhang Jing, Zhou Tianyang, Xie Zhen, Song Jing, Zhong Zhanwen, Lei Yaxiong, Su Dongpo, Wang Huibing, Lin Peiyi, Wang Yeming, Li Beibei
Interior Design: Li Jianhua, Xie Jilong
Green Building Design: Lin Zitao
Landscape Design: Chen Huanmin, Ye Xiangqian, Shi Huixia
Construction Management Team: Zheng Climbing, Liao Mingyu, Chen Fuguang, Tong Jinbao, Liu Yuzhong, Hu Wei, Zheng Lixuan, Gu Peiqin, Wang Xinjie, Ning Pinggui, Fan Yunzhuo
Owners: Education Bureau of Futian District, Shenzhen; Public Works Department of Futian District, Shenzhen
Academic Planning, Supervision, and Competition Organization: Futian Management Bureau of Shenzhen Planning and Land Resources Commission; Futian New Campus Action Plan Organizing Committee
Acoustic Consultant: Huang Zhanchun Theater Architectural Design Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd
Curtain Wall Design: Shenzhen Yingke Curtain Wall Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Logo Design: Shanggu Creative Design (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd
Lighting Consultant: Zhang Xin Studio, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University
Construction Agency: Shenzhen Huayang International Engineering Design Co., Ltd
Construction Contractor: Shenzhen Huasheng Construction Group Co., Ltd
Location: Shenzhen
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