The Shenzhen city design promotion center announced on Jan. 4 that the city was welcoming bids from around the world regarding architectural designs for the C2 plot of the Hubei zone in Luohu district.

The deadline for submitting applications to take part in the bidding is Jan. 14.

The C2 plot covers an area of 14,600 square meters. The total built-up area will reach 384,000 square meters, among which office buildings cover 358,500 square meters, underground commercial space 25,500 square meters and underground parking lots about 48,000 square meters.

The construction of the Hubei zone is one of the two key urban renovation projects of the city. It is located at the hub of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, covering a total area of 2.2 million square meters. The overall planned investment of the project is estimated at about 70 billion yuan ($10.81 billion).

The phase one project commenced in 2019, and it covers 88,000 square meters, with a constructed area of 705,000 square meters, involving 20.8 billion yuan of investment.

Notably, according to the city’s plan, some old villages in the center of the Hubei zone, covering an area of 14,478 square meters, are designated for protection. Among the villages, the Nanfang old village was initially built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and it was part of the Shenzhen ruins.

It is from these ruins that the city of Shenzhen has taken its name. The purpose of protecting the old villages is to preserve the roots of the city for future generations.

Beside the old villages there will be a skyscraper named the Hubei Tower to be built. The city hopes it can become a new landmark structure.