The Shanghai Jiading New City Central Green Axis Renewal Project is an exploration and practice of ecological landscape renewal that quickly responds to people’s needs for healthy urban life in the context of the epidemic.
As the central landscape axis of Jiading New City, the Green Axis Park spans 3.1 kilometers from east to west, with Yuanxiang Lake at its core. Covering 104 hectares, including 34.5 hectares of water, the park has a good natural ecological foundation. Over the past decade, it has been a popular destination for outdoor activities and lotus flower appreciation among local residents. However, as the region’s population grows and demand for outdoor fitness increases post-pandemic, the existing facilities and functional areas are insufficient in number and require urgent renovation and improvement.
DESIGN DIFFICULTIES:
Within a limited budget and timeframe, the Green Axis Park must not only maintain good ecological characteristics, but also ensure the current and future needs of citizens, that is, create a public space that integrates outdoor sports, family community activities, and closeness to nature.
SPATIAL SYSTEM COMBING:
The design makes an overall review and repair of the existing plant space, functional system, slow movement and lighting system of the park. The design team replenished the deserted space with ground cover plants and incorporated functions; added 550 meters of water-friendly trails, added a 3.1KM cycling path, and a 3.3KM track around the lake to connect disconnected trails; and improved the slow-travel system of the park. A three-level lighting system is implemented to support nighttime activities. Local elements such as wisteria, grapevines, and lotus are integrated into the design to enhance the park’s character and attractiveness.
SYMBIOTIC WITH NATURE:
The design team focuses on integrating human activities into the natural environment. While retaining the original trees, the residents can have more intimate contact with nature by building forest plank roads, adding sensor fog systems and more activity spaces. Addressing the lack of water-friendly space, the team added water-friendly trails, boardwalks, and platforms, and planted suitable water-friendly plants to facilitate resident interaction with the water. These initiatives have led to more active water-friendly activities in the neighbourhood.
MULTIPLE PLACES FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:
The design team upgraded the four activity spaces and added eight new places, making them areas for twelve sports including running, football, basketball, etc. This will meet the sports needs of surrounding residents of all ages. Two child-friendly spaces with a lake and forest theme were constructed using permeable ground materials and recycled amenities.
RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE POST-EPIDEMIC ERA:
The Green Axis Park not only allows residents to get closer to nature, but also hosts more sports and art activities. It meets people’s needs for more diversified public spaces and also brings new vitality to the surrounding communities.
Green Axis Park
Location: Jiading, Shanghai, China
Designer: Arcplus (Arcplus Shanghai Xiandai Architectural Decoration & Landscape Design Research Institute Co., Ltd. )
Lead Designer: Xiarong Qiu
Landscape team: Jie Zhou, Jian He, Wei Zhang, Weiwei Wang, Hao Shi, Chenyang Yu, Yun Yang, Na Zhou, Changsi Shao, Nengju Wang, Gaofeng Cheng, Bo Dong, Bing Wang, Jingfeng Qing
Client: Shanghai Jiading New City Development Co., Ltd
Collaborators/Other Consultants: KOMPAN Playgrounds （Shanghai）Co.，Ltd.
Construction Company:
Arcplus (Arcplus Shanghai Xiandai Architectural Decoration & Landscape Design Research Institute Co., Ltd. )
Shanghai Construction Engineering First Construction Group Co., Ltd
Photography: WDl, Kejia Mei
