Most Unique and Beautiful Building in Shenzhen: Marisfrolg Architecture Story & Visit Guide

If you’re interested in beautiful and unconventional architecture, the Marisfrolg Building is definitely a place worth seeing in Shenzhen.

Unfortunately, as of now, the building does not offer public access to its interior. However, even from the outside, its extraordinary scale, intricate details, and one-of-a-kind architectural style are impressive enough to make the visit worthwhile.

Shenzhen is a city where old and new culture meet, with everything from traditional Lingnan architecture to towering modern skyscrapers. Yet, the Marisfrolg Building feels quite different from both. Its distinctive organic design makes it one of the city’s more unusual modern architectural landmarks — and, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating buildings to see in Shenzhen. (Some people even joke that it looks like an alien base 🤣.)

Unlike my usual restaurant and travel reviews, this one is a little more explanatory. I wanted to take a closer look at the story and ideas behind this remarkable building, so I did some research before visiting.

📍 Practical Information

Name of the building: 玛丝菲尔大厦；Marisfrolg Building；

Location: 深圳市龙华区浪静路与一号路交叉口西北角；Northwest corner of the intersection of Langjing Road and No.1 Road, Longhua District, Shenzhen

According to various sources, the Marisfrolg Building took around 15 years to complete and cost approximately RMB 1 billion. It was designed by renowned New Zealand architect Fred van Brandenburg and his son, Damien van Brandenburg. The Van Brandenburgs are also known for designing a number of luxury lodges in New Zealand, while the design phase of the Marisfrolg Building alone reportedly took three years.

The story behind the building began with an unexpected encounter. In 2006, during a trip to New Zealand 📸, the founder of Marisfrolg, a Chinese fashion brand known for its distinctive design style, was deeply impressed by the architecture of several luxury lodges. She later discovered that they had been designed by the same architect and decided to contact Van directly, inviting him to design the company’s new headquarters.

At the time, Van had recently returned from Barcelona, where he had studied the works of Antoni Gaudí. Inspired by what he had seen, he was eager to move away from conventional architectural forms and explore a more organic approach that incorporated shapes and elements found in nature.

This background helps explain the Marisfrolg Building’s distinctive biomorphic design. Its flowing curves and natural motifs bring to mind rivers, oceans 🌊, leaves, and flowers 🌼🌿. The overall aesthetic can also be seen as a contemporary interpretation of the Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which was known for its organic forms and rejection of rigid, industrial lines.

Looking closely at the building during my visit, I could see how frequently nature appears in its details: leaf-shaped thresholds 🌿, fern-like curled railings 🪴, and rooflines that resemble wings. Together, these elements make the building feel almost like a mysterious living creature resting in the city.

Even without entering the building, simply walking around the exterior and taking in all these unusual details was already an enjoyable and immersive experience. ✨💞

Since the building is privately owned, visitors cannot currently enter the interior. We viewed it from outside the railings. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the surroundings felt surprisingly peaceful and relaxing.

There are also two viewing platforms along the street where visitors can stop, take photos, and catch a partial glimpse of the building’s interior.

📸 Best Time to Visit:
A sunny day is ideal if you want to appreciate the building’s white exterior and take photos. The surrounding area can feel quite open and exposed, so bring sun protection.🌞

⏰ How Much Time Do You Need?
Around 30 minutes should be enough to walk around the exterior, visit the viewing platforms, and take some photos.

💡 My Tip:
I wouldn’t recommend making a special trip here if you’re not particularly interested in architecture or photography. However, if you’re already exploring Longhua and enjoy unusual buildings, the Marisfrolg Building is definitely worth adding to your itinerary. Its unusual design is something you’re unlikely to see elsewhere in Shenzhen, even in China.

💕 And if you do visit, take your time walking around the exterior. Some of the most interesting details are easy to miss at first glance.

（First published: May 9th, 2026; Updated: September 13th, 2026）