Matrix Partnership in association with CZWG Architects was shortlisted to prepare a masterplan for the Bihai Area in Shenzhen, China.

The Bihai Area offers an amazing opportunity through large scale urban regeneration and is part of the wider Bao’an District development programme. The Bao’an District comprises a new quarter of the city of Shenzhen, connected by motorway and rail infrastructure. The neighbouring independent administrative area of Hong Kong establishes Shenzhen as a pivotal gateway into mainland China.

The vision for the Bihai masterplan is to create a new tradition in contemporary Chinese city design. This new tradition will reflect the values and aspirations of modern Chinese citizens as individuals within a changing ‘cultural landscape’. To reflect this change our Bihai masterplan defines a new paradigm in the way the modern built landscape of cities integrates the natural environment with cutting edge urbandesign and place making thinking. Landscape has also long been implicit in Chinese culture through the notions of mountain and valley but has yet to become conventional practice. This masterplan vision therefore establishes a new tradition for Chinese landscape and city design through realizing the concept of ‘buildings as landscape’.