Pearl Island Masterplan, Shenzen
2000

Although little more than a fishing village 20 years ago, Shenzen has grown to a city of 6 million inhabitants. Its unprecedented growth is due to its designation as a Special Economic Zone bordering the Hong Kong territories, together with the synergy it has established with Hong Kong itself. Terry Farrell & Partners' masterplan at the western end of the city – its gateway to the Pearl Delta – forms part of this phenomenal growth.

In September 2000, TFP submitted a competitive proposal for the design of the 520 hectare coastal city. The brief was to create a conceptual masterplan for a high-quality city for 85,000 inhabitants, including commuters to Hong Kong and Shenzen by train and ferry. In order to emphasize its symbolic significance as a gateway, and also as a rational response to the delta's hydrodynamics and the industrial character of the area, an island form was chosen as the basic urban idea. Connections to Shenzen have been carefully considered so that the island is a fully integrated piece of city fabric. This is expressed by the many proposed bridges and ferry connections. The island form also makes the new city a focal point on the route between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. In a coupling of Asian and European principles of city planning, TFP aims to bring to Shenzen the best elements of the world's great maritime cities.

The city grid is oriented to maximize the site's natural assets. The north–south grid is aligned to benefit from views towards the Baoan Hills to the north and the Nanshan Hills to the south. The east–west axis aligns with views of off-shore islands in the Pearl River, while the eastern edge of the site is formed by an ecological park along the edge of the bay. The city is divided into a matrix of neighbourhoods, each with a distinct character and a set of amenities. A network of sinuous cycle and pedestrian routes superimposed on the grid contrast with the linear geometry of the urban block structure, bringing an element of the unexpected to the city and contributing to its formal diversity. Boulevards, vistas and public spaces create a series of outdoor 'rooms', the centre of which is Pearl Island Square, which provides a focus for civic activities. Contrasting with this in scale are the neighbourhood spaces consisting of small parks, water gardens and pavilions.