Chapman Taylor creates urban design concept for Xili Hub Area in Shenzhen, China

Chapman Taylor has created a competition urban design concept for Xili Hub Area in Shenzhen.

Our proposal for the Shenzhen Xili Hub Area creates an innovative, efficient and attractive urban district as one of the city’s three key master hubs, seamlessly integrating a new high-speed railway station within the district and the wider city. The new urban hub will serve as a showcase ‘station city’ which will be an international exemplar for how to successfully integrate a major transportation development with its surrounding urban environment.

The masterplan includes a sustainable railway and bus interchange complemented by a range of commercial and social amenities. The design for the railway station is inspired by the shapes of the surrounding mountains and rivers, with the station’s roof peaks creating a striking ‘urban mountain’ landmark on the city skyline.

Each area of the new hub has its own functions, all interconnected within a unified ecological landscape. Office, cultural, commercial and public service facilities are allocated to the podium area. Station halls for three inter-city lines and four underground lines are placed at the north side of the site, while all underground stations are connected via a tree-lined green route through the site. Bus stations are located to the south-east and north-west to help ensure a stress-free interchange experience.

A landscaped green corridor extends away from the railway station to blend with the natural landscape of the Xili area and the wider Nanshan district, while well-considered landscaping softens what was a rigid urban road system around the site, helping to create a more attractive and welcoming urban environment.

The area’s upgraded road network increases traffic capacity and maximises accessibility. The new road system creates optimal north-south and east-west connections, helping to solve longstanding road congestion problems in the area. In terms of pedestrian and cycle traffic, a system of beautifully landscaped paths and corridors connects the two urban cores around the site to the new hub area, serving to ensure the area’s full integration with the wider community.

The infrastructural core created by the Xili Hub Area will act as a catalyst for the development of the wider Nanshan science and innovation district, allowing future organic urban growth to connect with the new station and urban district. The development will therefore be a key element in the future economic and social success of Shenzhen.