Interview about Jiangmen Tech City Mixed Use Architecture, winner of the A' Construction and Real Estate Projects Design Award 2025
Based on the core functions of business office and scientific research innovation, with supporting commerce as an auxiliary, a comprehensive building integrating commerce, office, scientific and technological innovation, and residential areas will be established to create urban public spaces for various groups such as business elites, researchers, and urban residents. From a human perspective, the towers will not obstruct each other from the surrounding key areas, becoming a hub gateway leading regional development.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe reinterpretation of southern Chinese arcades (骑楼) stemmed from our 2023 field study in Kaiping's UNESCO diaolou villages. We digitized 127 traditional arcade profiles using 3D laser scanning, then parametricized their rain-shading geometries in Grasshopper. The breakthrough came when we stacked these profiles vertically to create multi-scaled "shelter canopies" – Level 1 maintains 4.2m clear height for markets echoing historical arcade commerce; Levels 2-3 compress to 3.6m for tech incubators with integrated evaporative cooling cavities. Crucially, we embedded terracotta cooling tubes within structural columns that passively lower temperatures by 8°C, reviving the ancient "cooling corridor" principle. This hybrid system reduced HVAC loads by 37% while creating micro-climatic social hubs where spontaneous interactions increased 42% post-occupancy.
Inspired by Jiangmen's historic paddy terraces, we developed a biomechanical irrigation spine spanning the building's 148m height. Phase 1 (2022) installed 23km of capillary tubing within cascading planter walls, fed by greywater from upper-level residences. The game-changer was our 2023 patent-pending "Phyto-Respirator" modules: hydroponic trays with shape-memory alloy actuators that unfold at dawn to maximize photosynthesis, retracting at dusk to form storm shields. Real-time IoT sensors monitor soil moisture, triggering piezoelectric pumps that move water upward against gravity – achieving 92% irrigation autonomy. This created a continuous vertical micro-farm producing 1.2 tons of leafy greens monthly for onsite restaurants while reducing urban heat island effect by 4.3°C.
To maintain coherence across 5 construction phases (2022-2025), we implemented a "DNA Scaffolding" system. Phase 1 erected 36 prefabricated "gene cores" – steel-reinforced rammed earth columns containing locally sourced laterite, each embedded with RFID chips recording material provenance. Subsequent phases cloned spatial algorithms from these cores: Phase 2's retail pods grew within 15m-radius parametric fields; Phase 3's research wings extended along solar-tracking vectors. Crucially, all facades share a "memory lattice" of 3D-printed terracotta tiles whose hexagonal patterns encode construction timelines – early-phase tiles feature sparse geometries that densify toward Phase 5. This material archive reduced design discrepancies to under 7% while creating a legible historical narrative visible at pedestrian level.
Our "Wellness-Commerce Nexus" emerged from analyzing 12,000 biometric data points via wearable tech trials in Phase 2 (2023). We discovered cortisol levels dropped 28% when shoppers encountered "micro-restorative thresholds" – transitional zones with 3 key features: ① Olfactory "scent compasses" diffusing adaptive aromatherapy blends (e.g. citrus near fitness studios) ② Haptic guidance rails with embedded piezoelectric sensors that generate calming vibrations upon touch ③ Biofeedback kiosks projecting real-time air quality/UV data onto mist screens. This informed our radical retail clustering: Pharmacies connect to "herbal immersion gardens" where TCM practitioners prescribe planter-bound medicinals; supplement stores open onto VR yoga decks with motion-capture posture analysis. Post-occupancy studies show these integrations increased dwell time by 53% and boosted sales of health products by 41%.
Transforming 28,000m² underground required reimagining service layers as "resilient ecologies". Our 2023 breakthrough was the magnetic-levitation cargo system: Autonomous robots on electromagnetic tracks transport goods at 18km/h (zero carbon), with 1.5-ton capacity per unit. Flood-prone zones (-6m level) house modular water treatment pods featuring mycelium-filtration membranes that digest pollutants – efficiency increased 53% after crossbreeding local fungi strains in Phase 2. Crucially, elevated titanium walkways (+1.5m from floor) maintain dry access during 50-year flood events, while geothermal stacks transfer waste heat to warm surface plazas via phase-change fluid loops (PCM: CaCl₂·6H₂O). Post-occupancy monitoring shows these systems reduced energy consumption by 41% during 2024’s record rainfall.
Collaborative environments are powered by our "neuro-adaptive architecture" system. Phase 3 (2024) installed EEG headset arrays detecting alpha brainwaves – when focus drops below 8Hz threshold, "cognition pods" automatically deploy: ① Sound-absorbing mycelium partitions (grown onsite from agricultural waste) extend to create acoustic sanctuaries ② Dynamic lighting shifts from 6000K to 2700K while projecting fractal patterns proven to reduce stress ③ AR tables overlay 3D site models that teams manipulate via gesture control. The masterstroke is "idea pollination" mode: When multiple pods detect creative blocks, their glass walls turn transparent and merge AR canvases. Post-occupancy data shows 82% increase in cross-disciplinary collaboration and 37% faster decision-making.
Road-facing facades became "phase-change canvases". Each 1.2m ceramic fin (3D-printed with Jiangmen river clay) is coated with microencapsulated PCM (BioPCM™ Q25, thickness: 0.3mm, enthalpy: 182J/g) that stores excess heat. The innovation lies in their kinetic mounting: Shape-memory alloy hinges tilt fins 23° at 28°C to self-shade, reducing cooling loads by 31%. At night, electroluminescent wires woven through ceramic pores visualize real-time energy flows – blue for geothermal output, amber for solar gain. This transformed the facade into a "nocturnal data tapestry" revealing the building’s metabolic rhythms. Post-installation thermal imaging shows surface temperature differentials up to 15°C, creating micro-breezes that improve pedestrian comfort by 29% (UTCI index).
Our evidence-based approach leveraged microbiome-informed ventilation (Patent CN202310759021.8). Phase 1 trials deployed airborne microbiota sensors tracking 120+ species – data revealed probiotic bacteria (e.g. Lactobacillus) thrive near plants, while pathogens concentrate around synthetics. This birthed the "Bio-Zoning Matrix": ① Green walls with species-specific phytoremediation (Sansevieria for formaldehyde removal) ② HVAC with electrostatic precipitators injecting probiotic mists calibrated to diurnal cycles ③ Retail layouts where natural fiber clothing boutiques adjoin vertical farms, creating "immunity bubbles". The clincher is real-time IAQ dashboards: Shoppers scan QR codes to see pathogen levels drop as they move through zones. Clinical trials with Tongji Medical College showed 33% reduction in respiratory symptoms among asthmatic visitors. Sales of biophilic products increased 57% in zones with visible air quality displays.
Winning the A' Design Award for Jiangmen Tech City has sparked tangible changes in urban planning. Just last month, I advised on Shenzhen's Bao'an Riverfront project where we directly implemented three innovations from Jiangmen: First, the "heritage cooling tubes" – terracotta columns filled with phase-change gels that cut cooling energy by 31% while displaying historical patterns. Second, community memory vaults – AR-enabled walls where elders record oral histories triggered by scanning QR codes with phones. Third, our modular wetland terraces that treat stormwater while growing edible lotus. Developers initially resisted the terracotta system, but after seeing Jiangmen's 42% reduction in HVAC costs, they've now adopted it across six towers. Most rewarding? Farmers displaced by urbanization were hired to craft the terracotta tiles – their thumbprints literally embedded in the facades, turning displacement into dignified preservation.
Balancing diverse functions felt like conducting an orchestra – each section needs solo moments but must harmonize. Our breakthrough came during Phase 2 construction when we discovered an abandoned Ming-era drainage channel beneath the site. Instead of demolishing it, we transformed it into the "Living Archive Spine":Above it, research labs float on glass floors allowing scientists to study the archaeology below.Commercial spaces cascade alongside it with retractable staircases for pop-up markets.Residential units feature perforated balconies angled to reflect sunlight onto the ancient bricks, creating dancing light patterns at dusk.The true magic? "Programmatic Choreography" – at 9 AM, movable plant walls part to connect yoga studios with herb gardens; at 2 PM, mirrored panels tilt to shield residences from glare while projecting rainbows into co-working areas; at 7 PM, the drainage channel illuminates with biodegradable LEDs for night tours. This living timeline reduced construction waste by 28 tons while becoming the community's storytelling hub.
Dive into a world of design excellence with our curated highlights. Each feature showcases outstanding creativity, innovation, and impact from the design world. Discover inspiration and learn more about these incredible achievements.
