Using few materials and immersive scenography, Various Associates transformed the ground floor of a commercial building in Shenzhen into a future-facing exhibition space.

Part of a business district built in the 1990s, The Golden Business Center is the site for the Future City Exhibition Center, a public exhibition space designed by Various Associates. To integrate this new exhibition centre with the original building, the designer created a hollowed-out façade from a 30-m cantilevered structure made from gold-tinted acrylic, its pattern inspired by a map of the city. The golden passageway creates a play of light and shadow as sunlight filters through. Visitors first step into the Heritage Gallery, a dark, minimalist space with walls and ceilings clad in grey marble. Here, images of Shenzhen’s past unfold on a central screen – a quiet, contemplative moment to reflect on where the city began. From there, visitors access the Future Gallery. In the centre, a model of the future Shenzhen rests on a low platform. Digital display walls wrap the room in a dynamic dance of colours and gradients. After this immersive journey through time, visitors are welcomed to the final stop: a lounge area, overlooking a planted courtyard.

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