As cities continue to expand, striking a balance between urban development and the preservation of natural ecosystems has become an urgent challenge. Many cities have prioritized public spaces and cultural activities while not giving enough attention to maintaining ecological equilibrium. However, what if a city could develop both natural ecosystem networks and cultural park networks?
This project explored and tested this idea along a 4km length of Xicheng canal. The west bank is a single indigenous eco-system corridor; the east bank is a culture park, in fact an array of 100 parks, a place rich in all manner of programs and forms.
Within the cultural east bank a further ambition of this project is to create a park that embraces and enables the rapid re-emergence of China’s leisure activities and gardens. This article will delve into the urban design and landscape architecture strategies underpinning the transformation of this ancient canal from industrial backwater to metropolitan parkland serving both natural eco-systems and a radically fluid contemporary Chinese culture. Please stay tuned for the article and updates of the park as it nears completion.