The Greater Bay Area Guangzhou Central Legal Services District in Baiyun district. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_baiyunfabu]

Guangzhou's Baiyun district has launched a global urban design competition for Phase III of the Greater Bay Area Guangzhou Central Legal Services District, aiming to attract forward-looking proposals from design firms worldwide.

The competition, jointly organized by the district's planning and natural resources bureau and Baiyun Industry Investment Group, was announced on May 19. It covers a planning research area of approximately 72 hectares and a detailed design area of about 23 hectares, situated at the junction of the Baiyun New Town and Wanggang New Town.

The Phase III site occupies a strategic location at the intersection of the South China Expressway and Baiyun Avenue, serving as a gateway showcasing the Greater Bay Area's legal services hub.

The detailed design brief calls for a mixed-use, industry-city integrated community featuring landmark architecture, high-quality public spaces and comprehensive transport planning.

The competition is open to both domestic and international design firms, with consortia of up to three members encouraged, particularly those combining local and overseas expertise. Five shortlisted teams will proceed to the design phase, with the winning team advancing to subsequent detailed design work. Firms must hold relevant Class-A planning or architectural design qualifications and demonstrate experience in CBD or industrial district urban design projects. Pre-registration is open until May 24.