International design practice HASSELL is part of the winning consortium for a conceptual urban design competition for the Bao’an West Dynamic Coastal Zone in China.

Developed in conjunction with the Urban Planning and Design Institute of Shenzhen and the Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, HASSELL’s concept aims to transform the west coast and turn it into the prime area of coastal economic development in Shenzhen.

Bao’an is one of the largest districts of the Chinese city of Shenzhen, and over 70 applications were received from around the world. HASSELL and the consortium won the competition after four rounds of open voting, over seven other finalists:

  • Aube Conception SARL d’Architecture France
  • Shenzhen Lay-out Planning Consultants Ltd & KCAP International B.V.& Atelier Dreiseitl (BJ Branch)
  • Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd. & NAUTA Architecture & Research & Tenio Architecture And Engineering(Tianjin)Co.,Ltd.
  • The Architectural Design Research Institute of SCUT & Obermeyer Engineering Consulting (Beijing) Co.,Ltd.
  • China Academy of Urban Planning & Design (CAUPD) & SWA Group
  • ISA-Internationales Stadtbauatelier
  • Kuiper Compagnons

According to the architects:

“[The winning concept] will help Bao'an revitalise its maritime economy, coastal life and maritime culture, establishing a sustainable bay city model centred around people and the ocean.”

The competition was organised by the Shenzhen Bao’an District government together with the Urban Planning Land and Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality. Judges included nine experts in urban planning and design, architectural design and environmental design from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.