MVRDV designs Shenzhen ‘Vertical Village’ of stacked multicolored volumes

Construction is underway on Bihailou Art Village, a mixed-use cultural and commercial complex designed by MVRDV in Shatoujiao, Shenzhen. Organized as a stack of multicolored, irregular volumes, the project uses the “Vertical Village” concept as a vehicle to create a cultural destination containing performance, exhibition, retail, dining, and museum spaces.

The Vertical Village concept was developed by MVRDV and research institute The Why Factory in 2011 as a response to what they called the “rapid densification — and increasing homogeneity — of Asian cities.” The model proposed combining urban density with characteristics associated with village life, including individually identifiable buildings, access to daylight and views, and shared communal spaces.

At Bihailou Art Village, the approach divides the program among a collection of distinct “houses,” each differentiated through shape, color, and material. Design elements reference both the surr...