Urban Design for Huzhou, China, integrating the landscape with the city

Chapman Taylor’s latest design concept from its Shanghai studio masterplanning and architectural teams is for Huzhou, incorporating the Bian Mountain Yunqi Valley and Changtianyang Area. The proposals include architectural designs for Huzhou Wetland Cultural Plaza.

Since ancient times, Huzhou’s environmental conditions have made it a successful place, forming the unique culture of the Bian Mountain Changtiangyang area. The design interprets the characteristics of the mountain, the water and the Lougang polder fields. The ecosystem of the Lougang will be restored to its original character: it will be a place of convergence with mountains and water, well connected by bridges.

The designs employ ecological resources through eco-agriculture, eco-industry, eco-tourism and green finance. The aim is to create a symbiosis of water, landscape and people.

Through the simulation of the Lougang system, four different types of open space are envisaged: wetland, mountain, waterway and village. The Wetland Cityscape Interface is an area where the outer active space of the wetlands and the inner ecological space merge, emphasising the integration of the city and the country. The Valley Cityscape Interface is an area where the mountains and valleys merge, incorporating changes in topography to provide valleys, woodlands, waterways and urban buffer spaces. The ancient bridges will connect various spaces, including the cultural square and the surrounding area.

The traditional Lougang ecological system

The landscape space is divided into several characteristic areas such as mountain parks, country parks, polder fields and fishponds, and includes cultural and tourism experience areas to create diverse waterfront activity sites and diverse landscape spaces.

Three design concepts have been derived from the human history, natural ecology and site characteristics of Huzhou and are integrated into the designs of the buildings. The Jiangnan Shanshui style is implied on the roof green system, following the stepped layout of the polder fields of the Lougang. Flowing lines are used to create an architectural form inspired by Chinese calligraphy, like dragons and snakes following a writing brush.

The museums are in a prominent location to the north of the site overlooking the wetlands. The design interprets the Lougang ecological systems as well as a highly contemporary response to the character of a traditional village.

Johnny Jiang (MArch MDA (Master of Design Arts))

Director, Shanghai and Beijing

Johnny has considerable experience in architectural design in both Germany and China and has led many important, large-scale urban design projects, including both architectural and interior design.

He plays a leading role in some of the Shanghai studio’s most significant urban design projects, and is skilled at combining innovative concepts with the requirements of China's market and the local context. Johnny’s leadership during the construction process, and his strict control of project quality, have been widely praised by clients and partners.

Johnny joined Chapman Taylor’s Shanghai studio as a Director in November 2018.

Areas of expertise:

Architecture / Interior Design / Urban Design / Masterplanning / Mixed-use

Yichun Xu (M.U.P.)

Associate Director, Shanghai

Graduating from the University of Michigan (Postgraduate) and Nanjing University (Undergraduate), Yichun has 4 years of experience working in New York, and 3 years of experience working in China, before joining Chapman Taylor in 2018.

As an expert in the Chinese market, she has worked on a wide range of design projects including largescale masterplans, urban design projects, tourism planning, station design, landscape design and architecture projects.

Areas of expertise:

Masterplanning / Urban Design / Project Management

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