OCT Bao'an OH BAY

Description:
As a new cultural, tourism and retail destination that will spearhead the future lifestyle of the city, OCT OH BAY combines diversified programs such as open public plazas, an ecological park, exhibition, office, business, commerce, tourism and shopping. The project seamlessly blends art facilities, elaborate landscapes, and commercial facilities along the waterfront park and bay. OH BAY promotes the spirit of innovation, dynamism and diversity of Shenzhen.   On the East bank of OCT OH BAY, a four-story experiential retail park is linked by gently sloping ramps, escalators and bridges layered beneath an expansive green roof ribbon. The traditional shopping experience is transformed with an abundance of natural light and choreographed circulation. The 35,000 m2 RETAIL PARK consists of multiple pebble-shaped three-story volumes arranged organically along an elaborate waterfront park, facing south. These organic forms harmonize with nature on one side while multiple penetrations along the north side address the urban context. The porous nature of the project naturally draws visitors from the waterfront into the open-air retail environment, integrating shopping, food, and beverage venues seamlessly with nature. The second and third floor volumes are stacked slightly off-kilter, shifting, and tilting as they rise above the ground plane. This movement creates sheltering overhangs a dynamic terraces with breathtaking views beyond the waterfront park to the ocean. The boundary between building and nature, commercial space, and park land, is completely blurred, allowing for an unprecedented integration of retail development and a natural landscape. The shifting volumes and extensive green roofs funnel breezes throughout the site and provide shade and respite from the sometimes harsh summer heat. Two landscaped gentle pedestrian ramps rise from either end of the project, east and west, to create three-dimensional paths for visitors from public park to every level of the commercial zone including the green roof garden. This vertical pedestrian access conjoins gentle ramps, stairs, and rest zones with trees, flowers, and art installations. Located in the center of the lower-level retail is a 50-meter-wide sunken plaza. This celebration space will accommodate diverse events, exhibitions, and impromptu social gatherings. It is the culmination point for public access from the subway station in the north-east and the gateway to the waterfront park through a cascading water garden. Gently undulated green roofs, as mentioned above, tie all volumes of the development together, creating a unique setting adjacent to and above the waterfront park.  From these roofs, visitors have spectacular views of the ocean beyond. The roof garden terrain has a diverse landscape that includes a flower garden, a cascading sculpture garden, an outdoor performance terrace and undulating running trail. The undulating running trail floats above the retail circulation and gives exercise enthusiasts a thrilling experience with 360-degree views from the ocean to the city and beyond.

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