The MXTR Park (short for Mixture Park), part of the Water Plaza at Nanshan’s landmark shopping complex MixC World, is among 548 projects shortlisted for the 14th Annual Architizer A+Awards.

The MXTR Park at Nanshan’s landmark shopping complex MixC World is shortlisted for the 14th Annual Architizer A+Awards. Images courtesy of www.archdaily.com

Selected by Architizer’s 250-plus-member jury from thousands of submissions worldwide, each of the 124 categories retains just five finalists, which will vie for a Popular Choice Award and a Jury Award. Of the 548 finalists, Chinese entries secured 120 spots (21.9%).

From intimate private residences to civic landmarks, and from adaptive reuse projects to bold new constructions, the Architizer A+Awards honor the best architecture projects worldwide and are often dubbed the “Oscars for Architecture.”

The MXTR Park, designed by Within Beyond Studio, is a finalist in the highly competitive category of “Commercial Renovations and Additions.”

Through bold geometric forms and three-dimensional open spaces, the project becomes a landmark that blends commercial spaces with public function, integrating retail activity into urban life.

Its cylindrical structure visually balances with the nearby "Hugging Elephant" sculpture and stands in harmony with the surrounding buildings. The structure is carved open and connected by circular routes, creating a welcoming façade. On the plaza side, a stepped platform accesses three levels: a flexible market at ground level, seating on the second floor, and a rooftop garden serving as an elevated event space. Materials emphasize contrast: a silver aluminum roof echoes nearby architecture, enhancing sculptural impact, while wood and wood-toned aluminum panels at the pedestrian level create a warm, approachable feel.

A landmark of Nanshan’s CBD area, MixC World has embraced urban regeneration through innovative design. Built on the former site of Dachong Village, the commercial complex opened in September 2017, with a total floor area of approximately 2.8 million square meters, including 230,000 square meters of retail space.

Created with 35 top-tier global teams, the design preserves historical relics such as the Dawang Ancient Temple, the Zheng’s Ancestral Hall, and ancient banyan trees, keeping the memory of the old village alive. The mall houses over 300 brands, many of which are inaugural stores in South China or Shenzhen.