Zaha Hadid Architects Unveils Two New Projects: HKUST Student Residence and Tower C at Shenzhen Bay

Words by Jianne Soriano

January 12, 2021

Cover Zaha Hadid Architects reveals their two new projects in the city and neighbouring Shenzhen (Photo: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects)

The prominent architecture firm founded by Zaha Hadid will be helming the designs for Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's student resident halls and Tower C at Shenzen Bay Super Headquarters Base

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), founded by Pritzker Architecture awardee Zaha Hadid, is continuing its footprint in Hong Kong and neighbouring Shenzhen with the recent announcement of its two new projects, the student residence at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and Tower C at Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base.

For the project at HKUST, ZHA is working with Leigh & Orange Architects (L&O) and planned for completion in 2023. The university's new halls of residence will get a new look and set to house over 1,500 students. ZHA is known for its Avant-grande and futuristic designs an the design for this will be merging advanced digital design technologies and sustainable construction practices as well as operational strategies set for a 50-year life cycle. This design concept is echoed by the university's own mission to harness technology and innovation to solve the world's most pressing global issues.

The new halls of residence will be located at the southeast side of the campus, embedded within a steeply sloping site. In order to build a stronger cross-campus culture, the roof incorporates shaded outdoor areas for students and staff to rest and gather together while the rooftop walkway will connect the academic buildings of the north campus and the residential block of the south, helping to cut down the need to walk up the hilly terrain.

As for the interiors, the dorms will be arranged into clusters of shared living spaces and bedrooms. Here, 18–36 students can share a single apartment as a self-contained household, almost like a family unit.

HKUST's Student Residence overall master plan (Photo: Courtesy of Visual Brick)

HKUST's communal space (Photo: Courtesy of Visual Brick)

HKUST's Student Residence Central Spine (Photo: Courtesy of Visual Brick)

Tower C at Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base (Photo: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects)

Tower C (Photo: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects)

Meanwhile, ZHA won the design competition to build Tower C at Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base, set to become an important business and financial centre in Shenzhen that will serve the Greater Bay Areas of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. It aims to accommodate 300,000 employees each day and will be a venue for international conferences, exhibitions, cultural and art programmes as well as a transportation centre, botanical grasslands and coastal zone with wetlands.

Tower C will connect to the adjacent park and plazas to create a new public space. The project's design was informed by 3D modelling tools that helped optimise efficiencies in its overall architectural, orientation and ratio. The "multi-dimensional vertical city" will comprise of two towers with a height of nearly 400 meters, complete with naturally-lit office spaces, shopping, entertainment and dining facilities, a hotel, a convention centre and exhibition galleries.

And finally, there are also environmental considerations added for Tower C with it being double-insulated and using unitized glass curtain wall steps for self-shading as well as incorporating a ventilating system that helps draw outside air. The controls will be adjusted in real-time to reduce energy consumption with aquaponics gardens added on all terraced levels.

No targeted completion date has been announced yet for Tower C.