people’s architecture office (PAO) activates a barren site with its qianhai floating city, defined by its use of an open spatial framework. conceived and realized in shenzhen, china during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time of heightened uncertainty, the project is an expression of how urban space can quickly adapt to changing needs. the project is a flexible framework comprised of rented scaffolding. this structural system can be easily constructed, altered, and disassembled without waste.

PAO qianhai floating city
image by zhang chao

 

 

people’s architecture office (PAO) designed qianhai floating city as part of the ‘instant city’ category of the 2020 qianhai future urbanism/architecture exhibition. the show explored new models for city planning based on public participation and bottom-up practices. such approaches stand to contrast to the top-down urban planning that is conventional in shenzhen, where qianhai is located. 

PAO qianhai floating city
image by zhang chao

 

 

the design of the qianhai floating city was a collective effort and the result of discussions between people’s architecture office (PAO) and exhibition participants. the structure hosts a range of shifting and flexible programs, including movie screenings, lectures, workshops, and other public events. visitors are invited to traverse the floating city’s colorful pathways to explore various embedded artwork. meanwhile, guests are offered encompassing views of the city as they inhabit the three-dimensional grid.

PAO qianhai floating city
image © PAO

PAO qianhai floating city
image by zhang chao

PAO activates barren shenzhen site with flexible and vibrant 'qianhai floating city'
image © PAO

PAO activates barren shenzhen site with flexible and vibrant 'qianhai floating city'
image by zhang chao

PAO activates barren shenzhen site with flexible and vibrant 'qianhai floating city'
image by zhang chao

PAO activates barren shenzhen site with flexible and vibrant 'qianhai floating city'
image by zhang chao

PAO activates barren shenzhen site with flexible and vibrant 'qianhai floating city'
image by zhang chao

PAO qianhai floating city
image by zhang chao

PAO qianhai floating city
image by zhang chao

PAO qianhai floating city
image by zhang chao

PAO qianhai floating city
image by zhang chao

 

 

project info:

 

project title: qianhai floating city

architecture: people’s architecture office (PAO)

location: shenzhen, china

client: 2020 qianhai future urbanism/architecture exhibition

co-design: dongxiying studio, CCDI

principals: he zhe, james shen, zang feng

project team: wang he, gao pengfei, li zhenghua, xu jiaqi

completion: december 2020

photographer: zhang chao, people’s architecture office (PAO)