The Metro Wind Pavilion project in Shenzhen, China, represents a groundbreaking approach to urban infrastructure revitalization, transforming a previously delayed metro ventilation facility into a dynamic architectural landmark. Designed by Mur Mur Lab and completed in 2025, this 2,400 square meter project reimagines the Lingzhi Station Ventilation Pavilion on Shenzhen Metro Line 12 as part of the broader Shenzhen Joy City development.
The architectural team, led by Xia Murong, Li Zhi, and Zeng Rui, approached this infrastructure renovation with a deep understanding of the site's cultural significance within the old Bao'an District, Zone 25. This area holds profound memories for longtime residents, making the project more than just a functional upgrade but a meaningful intervention in the urban fabric. The design team recognized that human memory becomes anchored through tangible interactions with environmental systems, making this renovation a crucial element in the neighborhood's collective daily experience.
The project faced unique challenges due to the "repeated delays" that characterized the original construction phase of the metro infrastructure. Rather than viewing these setbacks as obstacles, Mur Mur Lab used this extended timeline as an opportunity to develop a more thoughtful and community-oriented design solution. The architects emphasized that urban renewal fundamentally involves weaving together collective everyday experiences, making their approach both socially conscious and architecturally innovative.
Technical execution of the Metro Wind Pavilion involved collaboration with multiple specialists, including structural engineer XU Hongsheng and lighting designers from ElA, specifically Jiang Zhaolong and Wang Chuang. The curtain wall design was handled by Shanghai Liyang Co., Ltd., with Gao Yushan and Chen Xinyang leading that aspect of the project. This collaborative approach ensured that all technical systems seamlessly integrated with the architectural vision while maintaining the essential ventilation functions of the original infrastructure.
The project team from the client side included design coordinators Feng Xia, Xiao Genming, and Wu Liangdan, while construction oversight was managed by Mao Qizhong. This comprehensive team structure reflects the complex nature of transforming existing metro infrastructure while maintaining operational requirements and meeting new programmatic needs for the surrounding Joy City development.
Photography by WDi captures the completed pavilion's striking visual impact and its integration within the urban context. The images reveal how the design successfully balances functional requirements with aesthetic considerations, creating a structure that serves both as essential infrastructure and as an architectural statement that enhances the public realm.
The Metro Wind Pavilion project demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can transform utilitarian infrastructure into community assets. By addressing both the technical requirements of metro ventilation systems and the social needs of the surrounding neighborhood, Mur Mur Lab has created a model for future infrastructure projects. This approach recognizes that in dense urban environments like Shenzhen, every piece of infrastructure has the potential to contribute positively to the public experience and collective memory of a place.
The successful completion of this project in 2025 positions it as an important precedent for similar infrastructure revitalization efforts throughout China and internationally. The Metro Wind Pavilion proves that with creative thinking and community-focused design, even the most functional urban infrastructure can become an integral part of a neighborhood's identity and daily life, contributing to the broader goals of sustainable urban development and community building.
