Three Cultural Centers & One Book Mall, Mecanoo’s project in the Shenzhen, China, has been named winner of the Architectural Review MIPIM Future Project Award in the category Cultural Regeneration.
The 99,000 m2 project, currently under construction, comprises a vast bookshop, museum for art, youth centre and science centre spread over four volumes. The new cultural and commercial complex will provide Longgang district, one of the largest suburbs of Shenzhen, with its own landmark.
"Surprising and stimulating, this is a welcome alternative to the usual high-rise, holding the plaza urbanistically and creating good connections," the jury noted.
Lining the western edge of Longcheng Plaza, the elongated building is an urban connector, and triggers – instead of hinders – a connection between the surrounding areas. The building will help turn Longcheng Plaza into a lively park-like square, strengthening the district’s identity and providing residents and visitors with a much needed sense of place. The project is due in 2018.
The award was presented to Friso van der Steen, manager international projects, at the Award Dinner during the MIPIM real estate event in Cannes on Wednesday 16 March.