Buji Residence featuring the PLAYSCRAPER

Shenzhen

You may have heard of Buji before: the project that represents best BAM’s maxim “a good idea can come from anywhere”. The project where the client chose the idea of back then junior designer Denise over a proposal by one of the founders, and where BAM went all in to turn Denise’s idea into reality. After two and half years of hard work BAM’s newest project - the Buji playground is completed and ready for some real action in Shenzhen.

Shenzhen is a place of utter newness. The city, by some measures, was born in the 1990’s. It is a place completely oriented to the future, teeming with technology companies and accessing a vast region of manufacturing to support the creation of cutting-edge devices. The people of the city are from all over the country, most of them looking to the future and the part their new city will play in it. At the same time, the name Buji is the very key to the rich history of the district and the region. Buji, by origin, is a Hakka word and used to be a settlement to this ethnic group in the past. The rich culture, dynamic history and progressive spirit of Shenzhen inspired BAM to gift the city with a BOLD design.

But how does one actually design a park for a large residential zone in a new city? BAM seized the idea that a great residential district should be full of families. Schools, safe places to play outside and a healthy atmosphere all attract families. Given the tropical vibe of the city BAM utilized a design language of bright color and high visual contrast. The bold design language is juxtaposed with the vibrant, lush native foliage. Defined by angular energy, the lay-out utilizes the existing height differences of the site and uses the EVA (emergency vehicle access) conditions as the base, instead of designing to hide it.

The Buji Phase I residence landscape is programmatically separated into two levels. The flowing street landscape at ground level for retail and bus terminal, and recreational gardens for residents on the upper level, atop the architectural podium. The primary element in the recreational gardens is a zig-zagging path, the Milky Way, leading from the main gate to residential entries. The zig-zagging Milky Way also segregates the two types of gardens in the park. To the north, the play gardens with greater sun exposure. To the south the relaxation gardens, tucked into the spaces between buildings and shrouded with planting, creating a significantly cooler micro-climate.

The Milky Way brings explorers of all ages from SIides Racing, to Circus and other exciting elements towards the unique ‘Playscaper’ an elliptical tower-like climbing structure which children can climb into and slide out.

Buji, the Legend of Shenzhen is still an ongoing tale. BAM is currently overseeing construction of the second phase of the project which includes a pinetum, sports zones, a dog park, running loops, a public pool. The motto for this chapter is: “The greener, the better!”