Shenzhen Longhua Archive Complex: A New Urban Living Room

Atelier Global Ltd. Transforms Archive Library into a Cultural Hub

The 130,000 m2 complex, located in Shenzhen Longhua District, is strategically placed next to the Millennium Plaza and river banks park. The project is envisioned as a porous and interconnected urban cluster, built in response to the local fabric and natural resources. The complex will house a 600-seat conference venue, exhibition spaces, event areas, and a dedicated children’s education center. These facilities will be open to the public, connected through a loop of public and cultural promenade.

Atelier Global Ltd. faced the challenge of balancing the publicness of the building with the need for high-level security for the archive storage. The solution was a sectional arrangement of the programs, with multi-level exhibition and event spaces on the lower portion, and storage and administrative offices gradually stacked on top in a step-back manner. This design allows for daylight penetration and the creation of sky terraces overlooking the river.

The complex is wrapped in a metal veil skin composed of fine extrusions of aluminum fins. This strategy unifies the entire complex and caters to the varying needs of the different programs for daylight, ventilation, and humidity control. During the day, the complex appears pure and monolithic, while at night, lights diffuse through the metal veil, creating a different impression.

The design process, which started in Shenzhen in 2018, faced the challenge of maximizing horizontal connectivity on two narrow parcels of land. The solution was to step down the south main archive building from the city side, creating sky terraces towards the riverbank park without blocking the north exhibition building. A sunken plaza is set back from the river to create a public space within the complex, and a multi-level public promenade links diverse public programs in a loop, integrating entrances from all sides.

The Shenzhen Longhua Archive Complex is more than just a storage facility for archives; it is a cultural hub that invites public engagement and participation. It is a testament to Atelier Global Ltd.'s innovative approach to architecture and urban planning, and a shining example of how design can transform a traditional archive library into a vibrant, multi-functional urban living room.