Phoenix Landscape Park (2012)

Project Data
 
Site Area:   10.000.000m2
Location:   Guangxi, China
Land Use:   Tourism
Features:   Activity Landscape built around different perceptions of natural resources
Scope:   Urban Design Master Plan
Status:   Planning
 
 
Project Summary
 
A rural area along a national highway - bordered by Caster Mountains and featuring existing agricultural fields, natural woods and wetlands - is projected to be turned into an eco-landscape park attracting young families, business clients and high-end tourists alike.

The master plan concept was built around using organic farming as a blueprint and physical background landscape for the entire development. Elevated pathways with BBQ pods, fishing lakes, horse riding track, flower and vegetable picking fields provide various ways of engaging with the unique landscape, while greenhouse restaurants embedded in the fields, the health spa and Clinique in the wetland reservoir and the panorama bar on top of a small stand-alone Caster cliff draw their fascination directly from the site’s natural topography and vegetation.

A lot of consideration was given to design a development in which target groups from very different backgrounds share a similar experience and come together at various locations (village, greenhouse restaurants, agriculture park) while enjoying specific attractions (waterpark and pet farm for families, conference center and golf courses for business clients, villas and luxury Clinique for high-end tourists) without being compromised by other visitors. This strategy informed zoning, placement, circulation and access ticketing alike. While the main area is a ticketed, mostly car-free landscape park, a small stretch along the highway advertises the site as a 3km organic market boulevard with fresh farm produce sold directly on site and open to everybody.

The architectural language developed for the site is contemporary and simple, as a contrast and canvass to reflect the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Materials like wood and mirror glass bridge between the mineral and the natural.