Gold Construction and Real Estate Projects Design · 2025
Jiangmen Tech City Mixed Use Architecture
by Jintao Zhai
- A' Design Award 2025 Gold Winner in Construction and Real Estate Projects Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Will&Tao Deisgn Inc.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 53,857
- Verification code 82646E775B · Verify this award
About Jiangmen Tech City Mixed Use Architecture
Jiangmen Tech City is a mixed use development that combines offices, research and innovation spaces, retail and housing on a site of 100000 square meters. The design is inspired by green terraced fields and by the arcade spaces of traditional architecture in southern China. Layered setbacks create planted terraces that extend greenery from the ground to the roofs. Public buildings face the main roads, while the residential area is placed on the north side. Shared work spaces and public squares support entrepreneurs, small firms and larger companies. Construction is planned in stages.
Jintao Zhai's Jiangmen Tech City Mixed Use Architecture emerges as a compelling exemplar of contemporary sustainable urbanism, demonstrating how large-scale development might reconcile density with ecological sensitivity through thoughtful integration of living systems and built form. The project appears to engage with evolving traditions of biophilic urban design, suggesting awareness of garden city principles while employing distinctly contemporary formal vocabularies of glass, steel, and extensive green infrastructure. The compositional strategy establishes clear hierarchical relationships between program types, with commercial and light industrial functions occupying the lower vegetated structures while residential towers rise at appropriate distances to ensure light access and visual permeability. Technical accomplishment is evident in the seamless coordination of landscape and architecture, where rooftop gardens appear not as afterthoughts but as integral components of each building's formal expression, their verdant surfaces creating a secondary ground plane that mediates between street level activity and tower silhouettes above. The crystalline office tower at the development's edge demonstrates sophisticated curtain wall engineering, its faceted planes catching and releasing light in ways that animate the composition throughout the day. Thematically, the work invites contemplation of human habitation within natural systems, proposing that urban density need not preclude connection to living landscapes. The presence of mature tree plantings along primary circulation routes suggests attention to pedestrian experience and microclimate comfort, while the variety of building scales creates visual interest and functional diversity within a unified aesthetic framework. One might consider how such developments shape daily patterns of movement and encounter, and what quality of urban life emerges when architecture actively cultivates green space rather than displacing it.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The overall goal is to create a resilient city. The functional boundaries blur the possibilities and freedom, increase people's return to the land to enjoy the sky, and the original worthless underground becomes the basic service layer and transportation network of the ground space.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The site is a mixed use architecture with a total area of 100000 square meters.
- Tags
- Masterplan, Mixed-Use, Residential, Commercial, Retail, Park
- Production Technology
- The smart health complex integrates health shopping malls, organic restaurants, health clinics and other formats. The medical and health care format has a strong experience, conforms to the commercial value concept guided by a healthy lifestyle and new consumption upgrades, and the huge roof provides a comprehensive all-weather consumption experience.
- Design Challenge
- The project will be constructed in stages, and the construction of different sections can also provide a complete image of the city. Public buildings are located near major roads, which helps to beautify the appearance and skyline of the city. The residence is located on the north side, with minimal impact of sunlight on the site, making it easier to fully develop the site.
- Project Duration
- Located in Jiangmen, China, the project was designed in October 2021.
- Operation Flow
- A service platform that uses co working as a carrier and community as a link, providing different needs of office space and professional services for entrepreneurs, freelancers, small and micro enterprises, and medium to large enterprises. Immersive shared office space inspires creativity and inspiration, creating a new experience of office space.
- Research
- Taking green terraced fields as inspiration, the design reflects the regional and cultural characteristics of Lingnan, striving to highlight the design concepts of ecology, health, and green nature. The layered setback creates a rich green space on the roof, extending the greenery from the ground to the sky, making work and life feel like being in a green valley.
- Inspiration
- The arcade space of traditional architecture in southern China, through contemporary spatial interpretation, has been introduced into the planning of the park, reflecting the respect and inheritance of the architectural context, and enriching the quality of the public space in the park. Terrace spaces of different scales and public communication squares provide innovative research and development, living, and communication venues for science and technology innovation enterprises.
- Image Credits
- Copyrights belong to Jintao Zhai, 2021.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to Jintao Zhai, 2021.
Colors of Jiangmen Tech City Mixed Use Architecture
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We specialize in innovative mixed-use developments, sustainable urban design, and architectural solutions that blend cultural heritage with modern functionality. Our international team creates resilient, green-focused spaces that enhance communities and inspire collaboration.
G0E23 ShopDesign Interview about Jiangmen Tech City Mixed Use Architecture
The core principle iscontextual resilience, blending Lingnan cultural heritage with contemporary urban needs. Our inspiration stemmed from Southern China’s traditionalarcade spaces, reinterpreted as multi-level terraces and public plazas to foster community interaction. The "green terraces" concept vertically extends ecology from ground to sky, creating a valley-like oasis for innovation.
We prioritized functional fluidity – blurring boundaries between work, life, and nature. Key goals:Create a 24/7 resilient ecosystem via underground service networks and weatherproof canopies.Catalyze innovation through immersive co-working hubs for startups to enterprises.Reclaim neglected spaces (e.g., valueless underground → vital infrastructure layer).
Scaling the "health-tech hub" model:Phase 2 integrates AI-driven building management for energy optimization.Export the hybrid-use framework to ASEAN eco-cities, adapting Lingnan design principles to tropical contexts.
6 monthsof intensive design (Oct 2021-Mar 2022), including cultural research on Lingnan architecture and 3D simulations for microclimate optimization.
Commissioned by Jiangmen to revitalize the district, but we transformed pragmatic requirements into acultural manifesto– proving economic development and heritage preservation can coexist.
Currently operated by our consortium. We’re open tolicensing the design system(e.g., terrace networks, underground utility integration) for similar climatic zones, with core IP retained.
To challenge "zoned cities." Hybrid-use isChina’s urban future– where living labs boost well-being and productivity simultaneously.
Critical regionalism theoristKenneth Framptoninformed our cultural reinterpretation. Technical inspiration from Singapore’sPARKROYAL on Pickeringfor vertical greenery systems.
A"innovation triangle":Researchers(health-tech labs)，Digital nomads(co-working spaces)，Health-conscious families(organic retail/elderly apartments).
1."Earth-Sky Interface"– Underground transport/service layer frees ground for human-scale activities. 2.Climatic Armor– Giant canopies enable monsoon-proof commerce. 3.Productive Green– Rooftop terraces yield herbs for onsite F&B.
"Jiangmen"denotes location poetry."Health Tech City"declares mission – merging biotech innovation with Lingnan wellness wisdom.
Rhino+Grasshopperfor parametric terraces;SITE ANALYSISfor sun/wind simulation;RevitBIM coordinating 200+ disciplines.
"Reverse Undergroundism"–Traditionally devalued basement space becomes theoperational backbone, allowing the ground plane to prioritize pedestrian joy and ecological continuity.
Collaborated with:Local architectural design institutefor seismic resilience，Local botanical expertson native rooftop planting.
Technology as"invisible enabler":Smart canopieswith photovoltaic coatings，Geothermal wellsfor 30% energy reduction，App-based co-workingspace allocation.
Evidence-based designguided us:Wind tunnel testsfor thermal comfort，Footfall analysisto position retail，Heritage studieson Jiangmen’s arcade typology.
Challenge 1:Phased construction without disrupting urban image.Solution:Strategic "facade" – public buildings completed early to define streetscape.Challenge 2:Reconciling elderly housing tranquility with commercial vibrancy.Solution:Centralized senior apartments buffered by office blocks.
A' Design Award’s"design for society"ethos aligns with our mission. Submitting to global scrutiny proves Chinejiangmense innovation transcends "scale spectacle" towards human-centered solutions.
Key learnings:Hybrid vigor– Cross-pollinating healthcare/commercial/tech yields unexpected value."Deep sustainability"– Beyond energy metrics, cultural continuity is true resilience.
This award validates thatcities can heal. By weaving heritage DNA with future-proof systems, we create habitats where technology serves humanity, not vice versa.
Grand Interview about Jiangmen Tech City Mixed Use Architecture
The 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.