Sustainable designs and multifunctional fusion of contemporary power plant buildings: case studies in Southern China

China’s recent socioeconomic prosperity and rapid urbanization have sparked emerging demands for energy power plants. Unlike their traditional role as industrial facilities, power plant buildings are given more attributes for urban development and thus require high attention to sustainability. In this case study, we briefly review the development of power plant building designs and showcase the recent seven power plant projects in the Guangdong province of China to analyze the driving forces behind the contemporary design of energy-related buildings. A clear paradigm shift was found in the design practice in the context of urban development featuring art-technology fusion, green technology synergy, and multifunctionality. Our findings indicate that next-generation power plant buildings must continue to embrace innovative design principles and technologies in response to evolving societal needs for sustainability. This case study provides valuable practical design experience of sustainable and multifunctional power plant buildings. This study aims to identify key concerns in power plant design and propose practical solutions for the Chinese context. Through case studies in Southern China, it provides insights into global utility-based power plant design and draws conclusions that can serve as a framework for architects, developers, and policymakers in developing future power plants.