Design plan selected for no-barrier center

A computer generated image of the service center. 

Shenzhen will invest 1.1 billion yuan (US$153.5 million) for the construction of Shenzhen Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Center for Disabled Persons, a source from the Shenzhen Municipal Public Works Bureau said Wednesday.

It will be a large service complex serving physically challenged persons, according to the plan titled “Healing Hill,” which has been finally confirmed by the bureau, sznews.com reported.

Located in Guanlan, Longhua District, the service center with a floor area of 130,000 square meters, will offer help for physically challenged persons in starting up businesses, rehabilitation and employment.

The bureau invited global bids for the design of the service center and attracted 69 design teams of 49 bidders including 18 teams from overseas.

The architecture design “Healing Hill” by Stefano Boeri Architetti (Shanghai) won the contract after rounds of expert assessments were conducted online and on site.

“The use of colors of the plan has a strong visual impact and the design makes a breakthrough in comprehensively considering the features of architecture and landscaping,” Carme Pigem, a member of the expert panel and the 2017 laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, commented.

The concepts of ecological protection, sustainable development and barrier-free intelligent designs run through the whole process of the design, giving a thorough consideration of safety, comfortablity and convenience in the details. In the design, the plan also outfits necessary public service facilities to offer sufficient guarantees for users and thus improves the functionality of the barrier-free service center.