Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has won an international competition to build the new headquarters for OPPO, China’s leading smartphone manufacturer. Situated in Shenzhen, China, the winning design proposal imagines four interconnected towers, resembling fluid glass missiles, and has been conceived in the distinctive parametric design that Zaha Hadid is renowned for.

OPPO has established itself as a brand known for bringing the aesthetics of technology to consumers worldwide through smart phones and internet services. From launching their first phone in 2008, it has now become China’s foremost telecommunications company. OPPO has a workforce of over 40,000 people spread over more than 40 countries. Furthering this progress, the new headquarters aim to emphasise on OPPO’s commitment to connectivity and communication through the building’s design and a comprehensive workplace.

The winning design proposal imagines four interconnected towers, resembling fluid glass missiles Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

The OPPO headquarters is envisaged as the Shenzhen’s new civic space Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

The tallest tower will reach a height of 200m (42 floors), with the orientation of all four planned in a manner that provides views over Shenzhen Bay, a cross-border highway connecting Hong Kong and Shenzhen. While two towers house open-plan areas that are connected through a 20-storey vertical lobby, the remaining service towers provide vertical circulation for the building. By placing the towers’ service cores externally, the centre of each floor remains unconstrained. As a result, this provides undisturbed views throughout the structure and enhances workplace interaction.

Two of the four towers house open-plan areas, while the others will function as service towers Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

Vast atrium spaces puncture the layout, bringing together the building’s occupants through heightened visual connectivity in tandem with amplifying engagement between the company’s various departments. These areas are visualised to be bathed in abundant natural light, along with diverse route plans within the structure for staff and visitors alike to traverse through the headquarters.

Visual connectivity is enhanced throughout the building through vast atrium spaces Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

The interiors of the OPPO headquarters bathed in natural light Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

The 10th floor of the building is designed to host the Sky Plaza, providing locals, visitors and OPPO employees with diverse dining experiences, leisure and entertainment areas. The rooftop will house a Sky Lab, intended to become a popular public space, offering people the magnificent views of the dynamic city’s skyline and beyond.

All four towers taper inwards at their base, which form large spaces for the public at street level. A public walkway crosses the building’s centre owing to the brief of the OPPO headquarters being developed as the city’s new civic space. The proposal also consists of a landscaped plaza, art gallery, restaurants and direct access to the nearby Shenzhen’s subway station.

The 10th floor of the building will host the Sky Plaza, which will provide diverse dining experiences Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

The Sky Lab on the rooftop intends to provide splendid views towards the dynamic city Image Credit: Courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

The project is targeting LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council upon its completion in 2025. “The new OPPO headquarters has been developed with 3D Building Information Modelling and energy management systems to optimise efficiencies,” explains the firm. This comes after ZHA’s Leeza SOHO tower in Beijing and Generali Tower in Milan also received LEED Gold certification.

Project Details

Name: OPPO headquarters

Location: Shenzhen, China

Area: 185,000 sqm

Status: Design

Year of completion: 2025

Client: OPPO Telecommunications

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects

Design: Patrik Schumacher, Christos Passas

Project Directors: Charles Walker (Commercial Director), Christos Passas (Design Director), Satoshi Ohashi (ZHA China Director)

Project Associates: Hussam Chakouf (Competition Lead), Juan Liu, Yang Jingwen

Project Designers: Melhem Sfeir (Competition Lead), Duo Chen, Katerina Smirnova

Project Team: Massimo Napoleoni (Facade Specialist), Aleksander Bursac, Mihai Dragos-Porta, Vera Kichanova, Ying Xia, Che-Hung Chien, Meng Zhao, Qi Cao, Alex Turner (Graphic Designer)