A pair of supertall skyscrapers united by planted terraces will define the mixed-use Tower C development, which Zaha Hadid Architects is designing for Shenzhen, China.

Designed for a new financial centre called the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base, Tower C is set to become one of the tallest buildings in the city at nearly 400 metres in height and to accommodate approximately 300,000 people when complete.

“Connecting directly with its adjacent park and plazas which transform into a terraced landscape extending upwards within its two towers, the design invites the public into the heart of the building," said the studio. "Tower C’s stepped podium integrates with the park to create a new public space for this dynamic city that has grown to become a global centre of technology innovation."

Alongside office buildings, this district will also feature conference centres, exhibition spaces and residential blocks, alongside a transport hub, gardens and a "coastal zone".

Zaha Hadid Architects will enclose Tower C with a glass curtain wall with

a distinctive stepped finish, designed to help the building self-shade. The glazing will also incorporate operable cavities to facilitate natural ventilation. Other construction materials utilised across the scheme are expected to include ones that have been recycled or have a low amount of embodied carbon. Inside, Tower C will comprise

a mix of "column-free, naturally-lit" office spaces, alongside a collection of public entertainment facilities, a hotel, convention centre and art galleries.

The scheme will be complete with a water-collection and recycling system and photovoltaics that will harvest solar energy to make electricity for the whole district. A "smart management system" that will monitor the external and interior conditions of the buildings will also be used to automatically adjust heating in the building and minimise its energy consumption.

Visitors will be encouraged to travel to it by bike or public transport, supported with the provision of "extensive" bike storage facilities and direct links to
an underground interchange and the Shenzhen Metro network.