Government of China
Shenzhen Customs Complex
Shenzhen, China
1,500,000 SF
Proposed for placement within the central district of Shenzhen, China, the Customs Bureau Complex would embody itself as the south gate of China while evoking its intelligent, hi-tech capabilities. The project includes 600-unit housing, a public customs processing facility along with private customs offices, training areas, a technology center, archives, reception rooms, recreational and dining facilities, an auditorium, and a hotel. The responsive design took the form of an elegant modern office tower anchoring the corner of a large courtyard. Surrounded by a free form glass-enclosed auditorium and restaurant, the 38-story tower is approached via a three-story atrium. A separate classroom, hotel, and recreational building cantilevers over the courtyard’s amorphous reflecting pool. The careful play of interior and exterior space, form and void, respect the public versus private areas and their security issues, while creating a unified landmark in the center of a bustling, pedestrian city.