Danish architecture office Henning Larsen have won an international competition to design a 5.5 million sq m waterfront district in Shenzhen, China.

Described by the firm as a "polycentric megacity", the new quarter will feature a vast swath of public land with a microclimate shaped by tree-lined boulevards, plazas, and gardens.

According to the architects, the "leisure city" aspect of the development will comprise multiple cultural attractions, among which will be outdoor sculptures, rooftop art exhibits, a seaside promenade, and a Ferris wheel.

"Our design aims to make Shenzhen the waterfront city it should always have been," explained Claude Godefroy, partner and design director of Henning Larsen’s Hong Kong office.

"To create an attractive waterfront, we brought commercial and cultural facilities metres away from the seashore, so citizens will finally be able to enjoy the atmosphere of Shenzhen Bay in an activated urban environment, like in Sydney, Singapore or Copenhagen."