10 Design set to top Shenzhen mall with indoor ski slope
Architecture studio 10 Design has unveiled its design for Huafa Snow World in Shenzhen, which will include an indoor ski resort that the studio claims will be "the largest of its kind in the world".
Slated to open in 2025, the development will include a hotel, shopping mall, office space, and an indoor ski slope with an undulating shape that rises over the other functions.
"Anchored by an 80,000 square-meter indoor ski resort, the largest of its kind in the world, Huafa Snow World boasts a rich mix of retail, entertainment, commercial, hospitality, civic and cultural components, creating a vibrant destination," said 10 Design.
According to the studio, the development will have an "urban green axis" stretching the site from north to south, providing public space with a connection to nature.
Located in the city's growing technology hub, Qianhai Bay, 10 Design wants the development to be a place where people and businesses can connect.
The site will be divided into three main clusters – an entertainment area on the western side, a culture and civic area that is integrated with the green axis, and a retail area designed to connect with the neighbouring buildings.
"Situated in a key location, conveniently linked to the airport and an intercity transportation hub, the new development provides locals with a place to gather while easily attracting and connecting discerning business and leisure travellers from across the globe," 10 Design said.
"Our vision for the project is to deliver a fully immersive experience, servicing not only tourists but also the local residents."
"The planning and design for this cultural epicentre reimagines retail development as a multi-faceted community experience, inviting discovery and encouraging guests to explore," the studio continued.
Huafa Snow World will include the Huafa Snow Centre, which will overlook the nearby riverfront and combine ski facilities with retail spaces and a hotel.
10 Design designed the snow centre as a series of interconnected boxes, aiming to encourage a sense of exploration between the different functions.
Rising over the boxy forms will be an undulating structure containing an 83-metre-tall and 441-metre-long ski slope, which will be topped with solar panels to offset the energy required for the ski centre and commercial buildings, according to the studio.
A hotel connected to the snow centre will contain a ballroom with panoramic views of the ski slope.
To create a snowy theme in the design, ceramic boards and aluminium panels will be added to the facades, intending to mimic glaciers and ice crystals.
10 Design claims the environmental impact of Huafa Snow World will be minimised with rainwater harvesting that will irrigate the landscape, and a wetland reserve designed to prevent urban waterlogging.
"Seamlessly blending innovative design, cutting-edge technology, and sensation-rich experiences, Huafa Snow World is slated to become the leading attraction in the region, supporting growth and celebrating nature," said the studio.
Founded in 2010, 10 Design is an architecture and masterplanning studio with offices in Hong Kong, Edinburgh, Dubai, Miami, London, Shenzhen, Singapore, and San Francisco.
The studio recently revealed its second design for Saudi mega-development Neom, the Norlana yachting town in the Gulf of Aqaba, which followed a luxury resort with two jagged skyscrapers unveiled in November last year.
The images are by 10 Design.