Cultural Landmark with New Model for Future Urban Living

Büro Ole Scheeren has revealed plans for the "Houhai Hybrid Campus", a transformative development in Shenzhen that aims to integrate work, living, culture, leisure, and nature into a seamless urban ecosystem. Currently under construction, the project is scheduled to open in late 2026 Rising in the Houhai district—once a fishing village and now a global hub for innovation—the project symbolizes both the city’s rapid evolution and its ambition to redefine the relationship between urban life and nature.

©BÜRO OLE SCHEEREN

Set against the backdrop of Shenzhen’s 45th anniversary as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the Hybrid Campus underscores the city’s reputation as a laboratory for urban experimentation. The district of Houhai, known for culture-led planning and human-scale urbanism, has become a flagship model of sustainable development.

©BÜRO OLE SCHEEREN

Spanning 2.5 million square feet, the scheme features four sculptural towers arranged across four plots. Their curvilinear silhouettes soften their scale, while staggered volumes add rhythm to the skyline. The towers are linked by a three-dimensional promenade of elevated bridges, forming a ring around a lush central "oasis." This layered circulation system—combining ground-level paths with multiple elevated parks—creates a continuous green network accessible to pedestrians and cyclists alike.

©BÜRO OLE SCHEEREN

Each tower serves a distinct function: flexible workspaces, co-living apartments, hotel rooms, and serviced residences. Together, they form a multigenerational community designed for 24-hour activity. A cultural venue anchors the development, while roof terraces and outdoor spaces provide sweeping views of Shenzhen and the South China Sea.

©BÜRO OLE SCHEEREN

Sustainability is embedded throughout. Shaded walkways, natural ventilation strategies, and water features regulate temperature while enhancing comfort. The landscaping integrates local flora that shift with the seasons, enriching biodiversity and human experience. The design also ties directly into Shenzhen’s metro system, with integrated station access and retail connections promoting sustainable mobility.

Blurring the lines between "city and nature, technology and culture, commerce and leisure", the Houhai Hybrid Campus reflects Shenzhen’s next chapter of urban innovation.

Büro Ole Scheeren

Büro Ole Scheeren is an international architectural firm that practices architecture, urban design, interior design and research. With offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, London and Berlin, Büro Ole Scheeren designs and realizes pioneering building projects and urban developments worldwide. To date, Ole Scheeren has completed projects totalling more than one million square meters, with another million currently under construction and a further million under design. The buildings have won numerous awards, including the CTBUH Award of Excellence for Tencent Helix and The Axiom in 2025 and Fifteen Fifteen by Ole Scheeren in 2023, the CTBUH 10 Years Award for the Interlace in Singapore in 2023, the CTBUH Urban Habitat Award for DUO in Singapore in 2021, the World Building of the Year Award 2015 for The Interlace in Singapore, and the CTBUH Best Tall Building Worldwide Award 2013 for the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing.