UCD/ Vantree Design/ Matter Design: Winner of World Design Awards 2023. Shenzhen Metro Line 16, with a total length of 29.2 kilometers, is the first reconstructed intangible cultural heritage line deeply rooted in local culture. It will absorb local nutrients, undertake the stability of ‘sunshine +’, and build the metro that understands Shenzhen’s inhabitant the most. Sparks will illuminate the way home, and designers put forth the concept of bringing nature, daylight, and social place making together with the idea of paying homage to the local Hakka Cultures.

The Universiade Central Station is situated in the tertiary education and civil building zone, with University and secondary school campuses sitting next to it. The Universiade Central Station is designed to be the crystallized second ‘nature’, the tessellated ceiling replicated the form of a stone creek where it also complement the architectural character of Universiade Center. The faceted ceiling was constructed with perforated panels which allowed light filtering through the center’s feature, orchestrating the notion of ‘Universiade’s Shimmering Golden Sun’.

The white portion of the ceiling is then cladded with parametrically controlled triangulated panels, the interplay between the ‘figure ground’: the white and ground creates a mesmerizing spatial experience.

Nature creates technology, and technological progress transforms natural laws. Nature gives birth to technologies, while technologies enhance the nature. The starry sky was the first inspiration to humankind in exploration of science and technology. This design of the Technology University station seeks the similar aspirational approach where the spatial movements meet with thousand shooting stars， to achieve the theme ‘the beauty of technology originates from nature’.

Vantree Design introduced the linear LED lights to the ceiling where they exaggerate the expression of the orbit of the stars, to enhance the experience of the dome. This highly futuristic and high-tech space also represents the ultra-ascending pace of Shenzhen of becoming one of the global capitals of technologies.

After a hundred years of ups and downs, people living in Shenzhen have already turned from a guest into a host -‘over the years, the places I passed by eventually became familiar to me, and alien land became my hometown’. Pingshanwei Station is an agglomeration of Hakka people in Shenzhen, a ‘pearl on the chain’ embedded at the interchange station where Line 14 meets Line 16. The station decoration is extracted and designed from the elements of Hakka culture, which are ‘around the Hakka Enclosed House, there are green lotus swaying gently, reflecting the clear and visible bottom of the moon’s pool’, inspired by the curved ridge of the Portal to the Village in this traditional vernacular architecture. It pays tribute to every new and old Shenzhen resident who have lived in the long course of history, and to realize that life always has the beauty of being positive and striving.

Shuanglong Station is an interchange station between Line 3 and Line 16 of the Shenzhen Metro. There are many historical and cultural buildings around it. Based on its profound cultural heritage, the design theme is integrated into the spatial experience of a modern transportation hub with the theme of ‘cruising Dragons resting on the banyan tree, painting the screen in time’, maximizing the development of existing resources to drive the revitalization of the urban areas and the development of cultural tourism.

By translating the ‘cruising dragon’ into a design methodology, the lighting and materials are designed like an array of shimmering dragon scales, implying that the inherited dragon is winding and circling here, witnessing the integration of technology and tradition.

Vantree Design adheres to the principle of adapting to local conditions, and in the design of urban public transportation spaces, the entire line 16 takes ‘sunshine+home’ as the main theme background. Each station design is not only achieving the core functional requirements but also combining the regional characteristics and cultural differences within. This was the starting point to shape the perception of spatial structure. The design interprets the individuality and unity of the overall route by the shapes, functions, and materials of each station on Shenzhen Line 16, reflecting the better vision of Shenzhen’s ‘cohabitation, symbiosis and co-prosperity’. Hoping that through the exploration and experimentation of the team, the project can become an icon of Shenzhen, integrating Shenzhen spirit and Hakka traditional culture, presenting the city’s characteristics, historical context, and creative artistries.

Project Details
Firm
UCD | Vantree Design | Matter Design

Architect
Vantree Design

Project Name
Shenzhen Metro Line 16

World Design Awards Category
Transportation Built

Project Location
Shenzhen

Team
Muchuan Xu, Minxi Cai, Junjie Li, Guanbao Ye, Shangzhao Yang, Xiaofeng Li, Xingchen Song, Dongming Shen, Dejun Li, Jiajun Yin, Zhuohui Hu, Qinshuang Yang, Damian Chan, Liutao, Songjun Chen, Jinge Li, Weijun Su

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
©Disheng Mao

Vantree Design specializes in the interior design of star hotels and commercial space. We have a team of skilled senior interior designers who are experienced and innovative, steady and vigorous. Some of designers have been invited to be in charge of the design and executive design for many top-class international hotels, which makes us to become one of the most powerful executive interior design teams in Guangzhou. Our projects have covered over 50 cities around the nation. Since foundation, we have won the highest honors in many domestic and foreign professional awards of industrial image.