Designs of the two most prominent components of Zhongshan OCT Harbour in Zhongshan were unveiled recently. The development is a large-scale cultural-tourism project in Shiqi aimed to be a recreational destination in the west coast of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). They are its riverfront retail mall, which is expected to be the site's visual landmark, and the apartment blocks, which defines the topmost part of the overall skyline.
     Designed by LWK+Partners, the practice completed the masterplan for Zhongshan OCT Harbour in 2020 is a response to urban recreational demands, business needs, river ecology, healthy living and sustainable development goals. Different components are connected by an experiential pedestrian bridge which serves as the primary circulation route. Like the masterplan, the architecture of the mall and apartments pays respect to the local waterscape through a sensible mix of tradition and modernity, with the aim to recreate Zhongshan's version of the glamorous Shanghai Bund.
     As the primary commercial icon of the whole development, the shopping mall is situated on the southern end of the site as a traffic driver, looking towards wetlands across the river. It also marks the start of a waterfront retail promenade and festive avenue. The scheme makes connections with the gourmet street across the river and with the bridge, synergising circulations and beautiful views across both riverbanks to create the Bund of Zhongshan – an experiential high street combining culture, entertainment and landscape. 
     Five interactive urban spaces are devised in an interplay of natural, cultural, commercial and social elements, offering immersive, multisensory experiences on water, on land and in the air. They engage visitors and encourage them to explore the space, opening up a range of urban dialogues and possibilities. These diverse experiences also serve the function of stimulating the people flow within the irregularly shaped development site.
     At the west side of the site is a line of three apartment blocks topping the whole development's dynamic skyline. Towers are arranged in a single line to allow the widest possible visual corridors while giving the apartments the best views. Not only does this enhances the living experience, but residents will also be able to establish greater connections with the neighbourhood. The tower design takes cue from the graceful movements of yachts and sea waves, in resonance with the aquatic associations of the  masterplan. The buildings feature curvilinear facades, slender horizontal overhangs and an ocean palette, augmented by distinctive tower crowns mimicking the form of waves as they hit the shore and forming a unique silhouette for the site.