American architects Richard Meier & Partners have completed a Corian-clad club for private members in one of the largest development zones in China.

The OCT Shenzhen Clubhouse is located on an island within the 125-hectare OCT (Overseas Chinese Town) Harbour district in the west of the city, which has been masterplanned by urban designers SWA.

Like many of Meier's buildings, the club has a predominantly white exterior and interior, which extends to the coated aluminium frames of the glazed walls.

The building complex has a radiating plan that fans out around the eastern edge of the island to accommodate a restaurant, an events space, private dining rooms and an exhibition gallery.

An adjoining block on the southern edge of the island houses a fitness centre and swimming pool.

Also underway nearby as part of the wider masterplan are a range of cultural and entertainment destinations including shopping centres, a museum and a theatre, plus parks and beaches.

Site plan - click above for larger image

Richard Meier & Partners also recently revealed plans for a 34-storey tower in Mexico City.

Ground floor plan - click above for larger image

See all our stories about Richard Meier »

Lower level plan - click above for larger image

Photography is by Roland Halbe.

Here's some information from Richard Meier & Partners:

Richard Meier & Partners Completes First Project in China

Richard Meier & Partners is proud to announce the first completed project in Shenzhen, China. Sited on a prominent island in the middle of the OCT harbor lake, the new OCT Shenzhen Clubhouse will provide guests and members with a restaurant, private dining suites, a multi-purpose area, as well as recreational facilities, a fitness center and a small exhibition gallery.

Section - click above for larger image

The geometry of the Clubhouse follows a precise focal point from which “layers” of distinct spaces radiate and terminate in a sweeping curve that is seen from the Cultural and Entertainment Center across the water. At the south end of the island, linked to the Clubhouse by an outdoor pathway and garden, is the structure that houses the Indoor Pool and Fitness Center. The simple geometry of the Fitness Center contrasts with the adjacent Clubhouse in scale and form, providing a balance with the extroverted outline of the Clubhouse and stimulating the dialogue between the two structures.

West elevation - click above for larger image

The meandering paths through the gardens of the Clubhouse evoke a strong sense of the Chinese landscape philosophy. Various vistas, textures, flowers and settings offer an opportunity for solitude, as well as platforms to admire the surrounding views of the water and the harbor entertainment complexes beyond.

The firm’s guiding principles of metal panel and mastery of natural light define the building. The shift of natural light throughout the day animates the interior of the clubhouse revealing different spaces and the crisp surfaces of the OCT Shenzhen Clubhouse. The dramatic planes and natural light shape the space, mark the passage of time and the presence of the sky.

South elevation - click above for larger image

Richard Meier comments:
“We are very pleased to complete our first project in China and are honored to be part of the architecture that is being developed in Shenzhen. The OCT Clubhouse reflects a unique design while the architectural massing, the subtle folds and the modulated proportions are evocative of the firm’s guiding principles.

We hope that the OCT Clubhouse becomes a destination for public events and recreation, contributing to the success of the OCT Cultural and Entertainment Center.”