Runxi Towers in Shenzhen, China connects people with place by supporting the lifestyles and needs of its diverse community. Located on one of the area’s last remaining development plots, Runxi Towers is coveted for its site: an adjacent park and golf course with beautiful views as a retreat from the busy city. Amenities include a fitness centre, yoga studio, piano room, mahjong room, private meeting rooms, games rooms, study rooms and lounges to support the residents and their guests.

Mason Studio designed amenity spaces that align with the lifestyles of residents living at Runxi Towers, including young couples, multigenerational households, and professional executives. The team researched and toured properties in the city to grasp client and community expectations, creating an adaptable and unique place to live, work and play.

The design team applied a North American perspective to an Eastern context with respect and consideration of specific, local, community-based needs in the process. As this was a new development, Mason Studio began working on model suites to optimize the functionality of the suite interiors and public common areas, which inform the function and flow of overall amenity spaces.

Mason Studio sought to understand the emotional needs of both client and residents, with intention to create a space that supports joy, to decompress and be calm, without being exclusionary. Establishing a connection with exterior and interior spaces, the project followed a form-driven approach, where all spatial elements included and emphasized fluid curves.

Acoustical plaster panels were used on the walls and ceiling of the piano room to continue the building’s curvature and achieve a seamless dome shape. This maintained its plaster texture, meeting safety standards, and minimizing noise transfer. Many amenities are against perimeter walls driven by natural light.

Operational elements like surfaces and lighting were selected to support resident demographic and lifestyles. Matte materials employ a visual softness, while natural materials add a warm energy to a building approach simple in nature.

Environmental and community impact were a consistent guide in the project, through a minimalist approach to eliminate excess material and waste. Mason Studio considered how the residence may be passed down to future generations. The design prioritizes durability, simplified maintenance, and longevity. Reducing operational carbon footprints was a priority within the project. The design of Runxi Towers considers its legacy as both a physical space, and a community for its residence, with an aim to be a home for future generations.