Guiyang Hot Springs, located in Guiyang City, China, brings together the rhythm of the Nanming River, and surrounding trails and trees to create a new urban ‘living room’ in the interstitial space created by new development and roadway infrastructure. Nestled into a mountainous site, the master planning addressed elevation changes of up to 100 meters and the existing relationship of its topography and watersheds connected with the river. The vision incorporated a strategy to preserve ecological corridors while allowing for future development and tourism. The Phase 1 design uses the natural landscape framework and pathways along the river valley to guide a new circulation artery and community parks, emulating the concept of a flowering river. Linear terraces for green corridors reveal expansive views, while harboring varying habitats and facilitating ecological growth without extensive intervention. The subtle manipulation of the land creates seasonal creeks which change dynamically and reinforce the ecological and environmental habitat. The circulation network is accessible to pedestrians, bicycles, cars and boats, forming a major transportation system along the ten-mile river. Based on the rhythms of movement, water and trees, the design for Guiyang Hot Springs provides a natural respite within an urban environment that gives a corridor of community space to the people of Guiyang.
Alief Park and Neighborhood Center
In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Houston was compelled to reassess community preparedness. The 37-acre Alief Center, situated in one of the city’s most culturally diverse areas, addresses longstanding issues of disinvestment and environmental injustice while fostering physical and social resilience.
Elevated above the 100-year floodplain, the...
Thousand Lantern Lake Park System
Nanhai Citizen’s Plaza and Thousand Lantern Lake Park exemplifies the exciting and innovative opportunities for master planning and urban design in new international communities. The site is located in the newly established city of Nanhai, and consists of a commercial precinct, public parks, and civic buildings arranged around a series of lakes and waterways. ...
Polliwog Park
Originally built in the 1970s, Polliwog Park is a high-use neighborhood amenity that provides active recreation and play facilities to local families. The original playground was replaced in 2003 but required a full update in 2020 to account for routine flooding. SWA’s design allows the park to remain an active community feature year-round.
In addition ...
Xingfa Quarry Park
Just north of Beijing, between the Great Wall and Yanqi Lake, the Xingfa Cement Plant once fueled China’s construction boom, operating for over two decades before its 2015 closure under the National Air Quality Action Plan. Today, an adjacent quarry that once provided raw materials has been remediated as a 107.5-hectare terraced park that anchors an accompanyi...