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.
Buffalo Bayou Park
This thoroughly renovated, 160-acre public space deploys a vigorous agenda of urban ecological services and improved pedestrian accessibility, with two new bridges connecting surrounding neighborhoods. The design utilizes channel stabilization techniques, enhancing the bayou’s natural meanders and offering increased resiliency against floodwaters while preserv...
Honggang Park
Nestled between two hills in Shenzhen’s Luohu District, Honggang Park is a green corridor bringing over 80 acres of open space through the city’s dense fabric. Celebrating the site’s stark topography, SWA’s design carefully threads hiking trails along the slopes to minimize ecological disturbance, with stairs providing shortcuts along switchbacks. Altogether, ...
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 ...