MAD adds trio of "cloud buildings" to Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen

Three interconnected curved volumes and two office towers comprise the Tengyun Center in Shenzhen, China, which has been completed by architecture studio MAD for technology company Tencent.

Built as part of Tencent's headquarters spanning 80-hectares across Qianhai and Da Chan Bay, the 72,000-square-metre complex contains offices and event spaces within three glazed volumes linked by steel-truss bridges.

Unlike traditional corporate offices, MAD conceived the Tengyun Center as an open campus designed to double as "a piece of public infrastructure".

To do this, the studio raised the three volumes 8.6 metres above the ground on 10 structural cores – creating an unrestricted public realm overlooking the bay at ground level.

"Floating is not a visual effect, it's a spatial idea," studio founder Ma Yansong said. By lifting the headquarters, we give the ground back to the city."

"It's not about making a closed-off corporate icon, but about letting the building become part of everyday urban life," he continued.

"In this sense, 'floating' is simply a way to make public space more open and accessible."

The three rounded volumes, described by the studio as "cloud buildings", step down in height towards the bay and are complete with large curved facades lined with horizontal shading.

The central and northern buildings contain offices, which have been arranged around atriums illuminated by semi-open skylights.

Meanwhile, the southernmost building provides flexible space for events and exhibitions, along with a public space on its second floor. Curved steel bridges stretch between the volumes to connect their upper levels.

A fourth, standalone "droplet-shaped" building also sits on the site.

These four volumes are overlooked by two new office towers, also completed by MAD as part of the development, which are similarly finished with curved facades wrapped in glazing.

At ground level, the complex offers an open landscape complete with public paths and shaded gardens planted with the site's existing mangroves.

Inside, long-span structures create unobstructed interiors, with offices, circulation spaces and shared amenities designed to optimise views towards the bay.

"The view belongs to the building as a whole rather than to its most senior occupants," the studio said. "The sea becomes a constant presence across the ordinary routines of work."

Also being completed as part of the Tencent headquarters are a series of residential high-rises by MVRDV.

Elsewhere in China, the studio also recently completed the spiralling Hainan Science Museum with silver-toned panels in Haikou and completed the Lishui Airport terminal modelled on "mist-covered hills".

The photography is by Agovision unless otherwise stated.

The post MAD adds trio of "cloud buildings" to Tencent headquarters in Shenzhen appeared first on Dezeen.