KING ONE Community Center by E+UV – Revitalizing Zhuhai’s Urban Heart Through Human-Centered Design

Located in the rapidly developing Jinwan Aviation New City of Zhuhai, China, the KING ONE Community Center by E+UV Architects redefines how urban public spaces can evolve with limited resources while achieving maximum social and spatial impact. Envisioned as a vibrant urban living room, the 56,589 m² project transforms four isolated, underperforming buildings into a dynamic, interconnected community hub centered around a municipal green park — a gesture that seamlessly integrates architecture, landscape, and community life.

Reimagining the Role of the Community Center

Originally designed as standalone service buildings, the site lacked connection, openness, and synergy. E+UV’s key insight was that revitalizing the area required more than façade renovation—it demanded a rethinking of the community’s spatial spirit. By turning the existing greenbelt into the heart of the design, the architects repositioned the project as a place of gathering, movement, and belonging.

A sweeping second-level platform now unites the four buildings into one cohesive structure. This elevated circulation system creates visual and functional unity, while inviting residents to flow seamlessly between spaces. Beneath, shaded areas provide refuge from Zhuhai’s humid subtropical climate, transforming previously neglected sidewalks into comfortable social zones.

A Multi-Layered Social Landscape

The new structure encourages community interaction on multiple levels. The ground level serves as a shaded public promenade, featuring circular cutouts that allow sunlight, trees, and playful elements—such as slides and tree pits—to animate the space. Children play freely while parents and seniors gather, fostering spontaneous social encounters.

A gently curving ramp and stair system lead to the second-floor platform, where residents can enjoy breezes and views over the park. This upper level houses a fresh food market, community stage, and event spaces, designed for day-to-night activity. The elevated design not only enhances accessibility but also doubles the usable space for community gatherings, performances, and local markets.

At night, the platform and park transform into a lively night market, illuminated by soft lighting and filled with the aroma of local cuisine — symbolizing a renewed urban rhythm where architecture and life coexist harmoniously.

Adaptive Design Through Color and Economy

Working with a strictly limited budget, E+UV focused on strategic, low-cost interventions with high visual and emotional impact. Instead of demolishing or heavily reconstructing, they rejuvenated the existing structures with a bold color strategy. Each building received a distinct color theme reflecting its function — from youth and senior activity centers to government service offices and retail spaces — turning the facades into a vivid reflection of the community’s diversity.

Simple, clean horizontal white aluminum bands replaced outdated panels, refreshing the overall identity. The Youth Palace, with its new wraparound corridor and spiral staircases, adds movement and joy to the architecture — its animated façade now a lively stage for everyday life.

Sustainability Through Preservation and Inclusion

The design is rooted in environmental preservation and social inclusion. Not a single tree was removed; instead, the existing green canopy was integrated into the platform’s circular openings, merging architecture with nature. The under-canopy playground and performance stage create microclimates of comfort and engagement. The repurposed fire lane, transformed into an ocean-themed pathway, now serves as both circulation and an informal event space, enhancing nighttime activity without additional energy use.

A Living Model of Community Architecture

Since its opening, KING ONE Community Center has hosted nearly 100 public events, establishing itself as one of Zhuhai’s most beloved civic destinations. Residents gather here daily—to play, shop, rest, or celebrate—making it a genuine social landmark born from people’s participation rather than architectural monumentality.

The project exemplifies how low-cost, human-centered urban interventions can reshape entire neighborhoods, proving that meaningful architecture doesn’t require massive budgets—only empathy, creativity, and a deep understanding of place.

“When architects design for people, they cultivate life,” the project team notes. “KING ONE is not just a building—it’s a living, breathing story of its community.”

All the photographs are works of Rui Du, Siming Wu