REIMAGINING REUSE

MVRDV's transformation of the Shenzhen Women and Children's Centre is a pioneering example of adaptive reuse in China

- Text by: MVRDV

To rectify the building's problems, MVRDV designed a comprehensive transformation that would allow the building's structure to be reused - a far more sustainable approach than demolishing and rebuilding. The most visible element of this transformation is the new façade: a grid of multi-coloured exterior frames increases the depth of the façade to a full metre.

MVRDV transformed an old mixed-use tower into a vibrant and colourful skyscraper hosting a hotel and a wide range of facilities for the welfare of women and children: a library, an auditorium, a children's theatre and "discovery hall", as well as therapy rooms and offices for staff.

With its colourful façade, the Shenzhen Women and Children's Centre is a refreshing presence in Shenzhen's Futian district; more importantly, at 100 metres tall, the building sets an important precedent for repurposing buildings in a city that is soon to see a "great wave of adaptive reuse".

The tower was originally completed in 1994, forming part of Shenzhen's first period of explosive growth. The rushed approach to its original design was immediately clear: due to persistent fire safety concerns, the commercial units in the plinth were not opened until 2002, and the tower itself remained empty indefinitely.