Reconfiguration and Renewal of Sha Tau Kok Free Trade Zone
COMBINATORY CITY
LOCATION
Yiantian District, Shenzhen, China
YEAR
2020 - 2022
PROGRAM
Urban Transformation
Ongoing Independent Research & Urban Design
Combinatory city means reorganizing urban functions to create complex and dynamic environments through the integration of various elements, ideas, and behaviors. This approach emphasizes the underlying structure and organization of cities, allowing for flexibility and adaptability.
The Sha Tau Kok Free Trade Zone (FTZ) was established based on the development model of the 'Shenzhen Special Administrative Region' in the 1980s. However, the early development of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) was hindered by conflicts between old and new opinions, leading to the abandonment of some optimization plans.
Although the Sha Tau Kok FTZ played an important role in China's foreign trade in the past 30 years, it has withdrawn from the stage of the frontiers of reform and opening up. The area is now sandwiched between the spreading living area of Yantian and the edge of the logistics port area in a stagnating stage.
To achieve a certain degree of connectivity and demonstration through renovation between the development of urban space and the needs of future expansion of the district and port, the Sha Tau Kok FTZ is in an advantageous position to redesign and replace the existing functions. The new space will be better able to meet the future needs of production and warehousing while making the area equally accessible to the public. The policy of digital transformation of various industries provides qualified conditions for the area to be transformed into a supporting area for "smart ports and smart logistics." The design incorporates information storage, business exhibition, offshore trading, and other supporting industries to help Yantian become a model area for exploring the linkages between smart cities and smart ports. The design will be based on the transformation of existing buildings to create an integrated Internet of Things (IoT). Ultimately, the area will be built into a new center for the integration of urban life and industrial production, providing a new impetus for the development of the surrounding area.
The Sha Tau Kok Free Trade Zone (FTZ) was established based on the development model of the 'Shenzhen Special Administrative Region' in the 1980s. However, the early development of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) was hindered by conflicts between old and new opinions, leading to the abandonment of some optimization plans.
Although the Sha Tau Kok FTZ played an important role in China's foreign trade in the past 30 years, it has withdrawn from the stage of the frontiers of reform and opening up. The area is now sandwiched between the spreading living area of Yantian and the edge of the logistics port area in a stagnating stage.
To achieve a certain degree of connectivity and demonstration through renovation between the development of urban space and the needs of future expansion of the district and port, the Sha Tau Kok FTZ is in an advantageous position to redesign and replace the existing functions. The new space will be better able to meet the future needs of production and warehousing while making the area equally accessible to the public. The policy of digital transformation of various industries provides qualified conditions for the area to be transformed into a supporting area for "smart ports and smart logistics." The design incorporates information storage, business exhibition, offshore trading, and other supporting industries to help Yantian become a model area for exploring the linkages between smart cities and smart ports. The design will be based on the transformation of existing buildings to create an integrated Internet of Things (IoT). Ultimately, the area will be built into a new center for the integration of urban life and industrial production, providing a new impetus for the development of the surrounding area.
BACKGROUND
The construction of metropolitan areas in China is expanding beyond cities and suburbs into the countryside. This trend is particularly evident in Shenzhen, where the city has experienced significant growth. In the late 1980s, a surge of capital and technology flowed into China, resulting in a rapid economic boom for the Special Administrative Region (SAR). As a result, the Yantian District of Shenzhen, known as the "special zone within a special zone," is faced with the decision of whether to develop as a city or a free trade port. One of the key challenges in these areas is to transform them into livable spaces. This is especially important if they do not fit the existing urban cognition of cities. The question arises whether these areas should follow the traditional city development model or if there is a need for a different approach to make them suitable for habitation.