GVL Gossamer have been selected as finalists in an international competition for a 19km stretch of waterfront along the Jing River, one of the 8 great rivers of Xi’an, China. The proposal celebrates the site’s history at the origin of the Silk Road through design strategies that tap into ancient and enduring histories of traditional architecture, merchant trade and agricultural innovation. Weaving these influences with responses to major climatic and environmental challenges Gossamer propose a new interface between the planned Jinghe New City and the river corridor. Located on the One Belt, One Road land axis, the Dragon Skin River offers a template for growth and remediation by creating an active ecological spine & world-class waterfront for greater Xi’an.
The design proposes a ‘Three Skin’ approach to the site. A ‘Guardian Skin’ for climate resilience and flood mitigation, An ‘Ecological Skin’, supporting onsite water treatment and biodiversity and a ‘Cultural Skin’ capturing the rich traditional and historical context of Xi’an. The Three Skins deploy a suite of local and best practice approaches including multifunctional dike design, traditional Chinese land management techniques and interpretation of local typologies.
Dragon Skin River
Project Location | Jing River, Xi’an, China
Client | Shaanxi Xixian New Area Development Group Co., Ltd.
Project Size | 20 square km
Project Type | Urban Design & Landscape Architecture
Designers | GVL Gossamer
Service Scope | Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Sponge City
Image Credits | GVL Gossamer
