Schmidt Hammer Lassen has completed the Shenzhen Energy Ring, a waste-to-energy plant designed for education and engagement in Shenzhen, China.

The urgency of the global climate crisis has given rise to a new type of architecture in China's fastest-growing city, Shenzhen: a waste-to-energy plant that doubles as an engaging community experience with facilities for research and development.

Designed to foster public participation and learning through interactive exhibitions and walking tours, Shenzhen Energy Ring invites the public to experience the facility’s impressive scale, leaving them with a lasting impression of the importance of minimizing waste in daily life.

The power plant's distinctive circular form, coupled with an innovative permeable envelope, photovoltaic roof, lush landscaping, and multifunctional design, achieves comprehensive sustainability goals in land, energy and water conservation, waste reduction and environmental education.

"In line with the client's initiative to 'build a factory, return a park,' this project demonstrates an innovative integration of large-scale industrial functionality with public educational areas, aiming to foster a harmonious dialogue between the waste treatment facility and the surrounding community," said Schmidt Hammer Lassen.

As one of the nation's largest single-unit waste incineration facilities, the design addresses critical challenges such as minimising energy consumption, water usage, carbon emissions and overall environmental impact during operation.

"This approach seeks to transform the neighbourhood's 'not in my backyard' attitude into 'neighbourly relations'," added Schmidt Hammer Lassen.

This project has been shortlisted in the civic project category of Dezeen Awards China 2024.

Studio: Schmidt Hammer Lassen
Project: Shenzhen Energy Ring
Credits: Gottlieb Paludan Architects, Schlaich Bergermann Partner, EAST Design, Beijing Shenzhen Landscape, East China Electrical Power Design Institute of China Power Engineering Consulting Group, China Energy Engineering Group Northeast No.1 Electric Construction and Power China Shanghai Power Construction No.2