Riverfront Park (2013)

Project Data
 
Site Area:   1.000.000m2
Location:   Guiping, China
Land Use:   Greenspace / Recreation
Features:   Urban regeneration creating new destination spaces along 6km riverfront
Scope:   Urban Design
Status:   Planning
 
 
Project Summary
 
GuiPing City is situated on the convergence of three major rivers to one side and the famous Buddhist West Mountain to the other. It has long been a religious haven and thus a traditional destination for pilgrims and modern day religious inspired travelers and has recently attracted a wider range of tourists due to its lush natural surroundings. In recent years, the city has expended and seen new development (commercial as well as residential) within its central areas.

This project is at the forefront of developing a sound, contemporary identity of GuiPing. In order to do so, the Riverfront has been identified as the main existing potential and the design looked at adding destinations as well as developing the 6km shoreline into a park itself with various segments connecting to the local adjacent neighborhoods. A series of canopies highlight the new River Front Park, provide shelter, shade and light adding a unique look and feel to this recreational area with boating piers, islands, lotus ponds, river swimming pools, culture stage, floating market - which have all been developed from historic predecessors and at traditional sites - while meandering along the river or when overlooking the city from West Mountain.

While the River Front Park circumscribes the core area of GuiPing, the suggested preservation areas bisect the Old Town, linking with the river at strategic locations: Harbor / Floating Market, Riverside Pool and Peninsula Park. Mostly, they are simple street side shop-houses sheltered from corporate investors and stimulating local culture, family-run cafes, shops, restaurants and guest houses following a simple Buddhist color scheme, sustained by a pedestrian-priority street scape blending animate, vivid down-to-earth Old Town atmosphere with contemporary sustainable tourism.