FUTIAN District is expected to take on a new look and be turned into a more spatially and socially open, dynamic and inclusive urban area, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

The key task of the redesign plan is to continuously upgrade the district’s urban quality and characteristics based on the current situation, push the district to become a unique world-class city center and spearhead the further development of urbanization in the country.

According to the research team of the urban redesign project, Futian will be landscaped to provide more slow-living experiences to help residents explore the district. It will also advocate for international cultural elements to become more attractive to young people.

As part of the project, the hill park area in northern Futian will be renovated and tour routes will be designed for all age groups. Through green space transformation, the northern area of Futian will be linked with the Shenzhen River and the surrounding wetlands in southern Futian, which will clear the way for animal migration.

Meanwhile, the large parks north of Shennan Boulevard will also be connected with small parks south of the boulevard to form a green corridor around the district’s central area. More rail transit entrances and exits will be set up in the parks to facilitate the transport of residents.

It has also been proposed that a number of neighborhoods be selected for the development of blocks featuring diversified themes, mixed business modes, new public buildings and sites for public art exhibitions that make efficient use of underground transportation hubs.

To highlight Futian’s glamour as a special and modern downtown area, ecological elements will be integrated with those of a modern metropolis to create a panorama of scenic areas composed of bay views, river views and street views.

KCAP Architects & Planners, an internationally renowned design firm, is one of the agencies in charge of the district’s urban design project.

Chen Ting, a staffer with KCAP Architects & Planners, said the theme proposed by KCAP for the design project is to transform the fragmented “bounded city” into a more integrated “open city.” KCAP hopes to release Futian’s urban vitality by remodeling the road section and underscoring the green corridor structure.

(Zhang Yu)