MVRDV's 'Vertical Village' Concept Realized in Shenzhen's Bihailou Art Village
A fifteen-year-old architectural vision by MVRDV is currently materializing in Shenzhen, China. The Bihailou Art Village, a 6,500-square-meter development, is under construction in the Shatoujiao district, close to Hong Kong.
This innovative project integrates diverse cultural and commercial elements, such as performance venues, retail establishments, dining facilities, and a museum, within a series of distinct, layered structures. This design philosophy draws heavily from MVRDV and The Why Factory's 'Vertical Village' concept, initially conceived in 2011. This concept presented an alternative to standard urban intensification, emphasizing the preservation of the spatial variety and communal characteristics commonly found in traditional villages. Winy Maas, a founding partner at MVRDV, remarked on the design's inherent paradoxes, noting its impressive appearance from a distance and the intimate nature of its individual spaces up close. He described the underlying principle of assigning a unique space to each function as straightforward, despite the outward complexity. Maas further highlighted the design's contextual integration, incorporating the colors, materials, and forms of both the neighboring buildings and the restaurant that previously occupied the site. He emphasized that, years after its initial conceptualization, this project embodies the aspiration to imbue urban environments with a human touch, contrasting with the monumental scale of monolithic high-rises prevalent globally, especially in Shenzhen. It seeks to harmonize urban density with human-centric design.
A key aspect of this development is the transformation of pathways, including staircases, ramps, escalators, terraces, and walkways, into extensions of the public realm. Each distinct program, such as the theater, eateries, shops, and the Fish Lantern Museum, occupies its own 'house' with an independent entrance, allowing for flexible operating schedules. The building's aesthetic is consciously derived from its immediate environment, with its varied volumes, material choices, and rooflines reflecting those of nearby structures in Shatoujiao and the former Bihailou restaurant. Each section of the building adopts a unique material palette and geometric configuration tailored to its specific purpose. For instance, the performance theater features a spacious, double-height interior with adaptable seating, enabling its conversion into an exhibition area, while a large opening connects the interior activities with the adjacent public plaza. Smaller commercial and food service areas are housed within the more compact volumes throughout the complex.
The Bihailou Art Village also re-examines a core objective of the original 'Vertical Village' proposal. This concept, published in 2012 following research by The Why Factory and MVRDV, challenged the increasing homogeneity of rapidly expanding Asian cities. It proposed an urban paradigm where individuality, natural light, neighborhood character, and high density could coexist. The Bihailou Art Village applies these foundational principles to a civic and commercial context, utilizing architectural segmentation to create distinct identities for its various functions while maintaining an interconnected public network. The commitment to accessibility extends to the rooftop, where visitors can navigate through the spaces between the stacked volumes to access publicly available terraces offering views of the surrounding mountains, the Shenzhen skyline, and the bay. At ground level, the tiered structure creates deep overhangs, providing shaded areas for gathering. New landscaping seamlessly integrates with the existing public plaza, reinforcing the building's role as a community focal point rather than an isolated structure. Instead of merely considering density as a matter of height, the Bihailou Art Village explores how circulation, programming, and public access can be reconfigured into a more permeable urban fabric. This project thus revisits an architectural concept developed over a decade ago, testing its viability in maintaining a village-like sense of identity within one of the world's most rapidly urbanizing environments.
This innovative architectural endeavor exemplifies how forward-thinking design can address the complexities of modern urban development, fostering community and individuality within dense metropolitan areas. By prioritizing human experience and seamlessly integrating public spaces, such projects pave the way for more livable and engaging cities. It demonstrates a commitment to creating environments that are both functional and inspiring, reflecting a positive future for urban living.