China’s burgeoning architectural landscape could soon be home to a new standout piece, after architecture firm RMJM won a competition to design a 93-metre tower in the coastal city of Zhuhai.

The Doumen Observation Tower, featuring leisure facilities, shops, housing and a viewing platform, would be built as three rising sections and decorated with 1,400 bent panels made from perforated aluminum to represent the scales of a fish.

Lead architect on the project Zhenyuan Yang has designed the tower to represent the rising status of the city, which is seeking to transform its waterfront area.

Zhuhai is often dubbed as the Chinese Riveria, with the region quickly becoming home to a number of the country’s most attractive residential and business developments, given its location in the prosperous province of Guangdong.

The world’s most populous country – and home to its second strongest economy – has become the prime focus of some western architecture firms, which have invested money to establish bases in a variety of rising cities in the Middle Kingdom.

Such is the scale of development in the country, China could become home to the world’s two largest towers, following the proposed creation of the Phoenix Towers, put forward by English firm Chetwoods Architects.

In order to protect the country’s design heritage, plans are also afoot for the creation of an institute equipped for research, training and restoration focusing on China’s ancient architecture.