It is our passion to design compelling and evocative spaces and places that stir the imagination and stand as precedents of design excellence.
In our approach, we blend innovation, sustainability strategies, ecology and biology, economics, architectural detailing, engineering, and identity of place - all in one discourse.
We work across the globe, conceptualizing and realizing public and private projects of all sizes. These include small intimate gardens, residential developments, private estates, urban master plans, public realms, parks, streetscapes, waterfronts, commercial developments, institutional campuses, the outdoor spaces of museums and recreational facilities, as well as other civic and cultural destinations.
Our attitude is collaborative, positive and optimistic, and we truly work across disciplinary boundaries while embracing unrestrained creativity.
For us, every project deserves a holistic approach in order to achieve the best possible outcome - socially, culturally, economically, and environmentally. We also consider what our design will mean for the adjacent context, as often our projects are found within historic settings. What impact will our design have on the identity of the place as a whole? What is the experience? And most important, how will our design work for people?
As dreamers and pragmatists, we are driven to come up with bold ideas that are rooted in functionality, meticulous detailing, and constructibility.
Our objective is to create designs which have embedded immersive and alluring qualities - that are refreshing, comfortable, and welcoming - spaces that are original and have never been seen before, that exude an inherent positive spirit and carry elements of surprise.
Our goal is always to establish an appropriate and unique character, ultimately resulting in a place that is memorable, frequently used, and loved.
Client: New World, K11 Group - Project Partner: Arup - Architects: OMA, David Chipperfield Architects
Prince Bay Waterfront - Shenzhen
Project Info
The Prince Bay Waterfront Promenade is located along the coastal front of Shenzhen’s prominent Shekou district. !melk served as lead landscape architect for this signature waterfront promenade, which overlooks the spectacular Shenzhen Bay towards Hong Kong. The project is comprised of multiple interconnecting areas, creating a contiguous public realm along a cultural center, a museum, and multiple newly built high-end residential developments. !melk’s design aimed to create a cohesive character and continuous outdoor experience within a condition that consists of multiple, wide-ranging individual projects being implemented by various developers and signature architects.
!melk’s promenade design – besides a continuous boardwalk - is equipped with a variety of sculptural elements, all conceived of and custom-designed by !melk. These include pedestrian bridges, canopies, and prominent overlooks. In addition, key spaces and places, such as gardens, plazas, lawns, and courtyards are located along the promenade at strategic locations to facilitate programming and spill-out space for the adjacent cultural center. Together, all these design elements contribute to the project’s unique and immersive character.
The project - aside from being a functional, ecologically regenerative, and carefully programmed open space - is projected to become a well-known recognizable waterfront address and a destination that will become emblematic for the Shekou District of Shenzhen. Furthermore, given its location, the landscape design also functions in a highly resilient capacity in order to withstand severe weather events and extreme flooding. For this, !melk conceived of a typhoon-resistant planting palette and topographic solution that – while meeting all of the strict criteria and guidelines for flood protection, also enhanced the overall pedestrian experience.
The Prince Bay Waterfront Promenade is located along the coastal front of Shenzhen’s prominent Shekou district. !melk served as lead landscape architect for this signature waterfront promenade, which overlooks the spectacular Shenzhen Bay towards Hong Kong. The project is comprised of multiple interconnecting areas, creating a contiguous public realm along a cultural center, a museum, and multiple newly built high-end residential developments. !melk’s design aimed to create a cohesive character and continuous outdoor experience within a condition that consists of multiple, wide-ranging individual projects being implemented by various developers and signature architects.
!melk’s promenade design – besides a continuous boardwalk - is equipped with a variety of sculptural elements, all conceived of and custom-designed by !melk. These include pedestrian bridges, canopies, and prominent overlooks. In addition, key spaces and places, such as gardens, plazas, lawns, and courtyards are located along the promenade at strategic locations to facilitate programming and spill-out space for the adjacent cultural center. Together, all these design elements contribute to the project’s unique and immersive character.
The project - aside from being a functional, ecologically regenerative, and carefully programmed open space - is projected to become a well-known recognizable waterfront address and a destination that will become emblematic for the Shekou District of Shenzhen. Furthermore, given its location, the landscape design also functions in a highly resilient capacity in order to withstand severe weather events and extreme flooding. For this, !melk conceived of a typhoon-resistant planting palette and topographic solution that – while meeting all of the strict criteria and guidelines for flood protection, also enhanced the overall pedestrian experience.