Xiangshan Lake Park is located in the southwest of the Phoenix Mountain Forest Park and the downstream of Meixi reservoir, covering an area of 34.6 hectares. Sitting at the heart of the Zhuhai city and surrounded by high-rise residential buildings, where urbanization progress meets ecological network, and shows a possible way of discussing urban landscape. Through this park, the design team intends to restore the symbiotic relationship between the city and landscape while respecting the site conditions.
Xiangshan Lake Park has adopted a streamlined design language. The plaza at the main entrance was inspired by how a river flows and features paths for visitors to tour the park. According to the gradual changes of the terrain, the plazas divided into 6 platforms at different levels, which are visible when viewed across the lake, presenting various daily activities of residents.
The team restored the mountain by building an earth-sheltered architecture at the side of the main entrance, which provides beverage and temporary medical services. A large lawn terrace faces the lake, and can serve as an outdoor theater, providing a convenient and open space for cultural communication. Recycled aggregate concrete in three colors was used for the plaza’s pavement, providing guidance for visitors while ensuring high water permeability.
Adjacent to the water, the southern part of the park redefines the relationship between human and water. The area was designed into a three-stage ecological wetland, and serves as a reservoir, taking in excessive water from the lake during the rainy season. Featuring different local wetland plants, the area has also become an important showcase for the city’s original ecological system.
The nearly intact preserved shoreline is covered with a 1500-meter long jogging track in light blue, which connects a series of waterfront spaces. There are three blade-shaped structures at the main entrance, one of which is enclosed by glass to form a temporary storage to keep visitors’ belongings, and the other two are pergolas lined with benches for joggers to rest on.
The design of Xiangshan Lake Park focuses on the balance between active and extensive public participation and sustainable ecological restoration. With a series of changing streamlined spaces and rich plant configurations, the park has a design that follows ecological principles in every detail and brings good experience to local people. The appropriate planting and hydrological design enabled the park to withstand the Super Typhoon Mangkhut.
Xiangshan Lake Park
Location: Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China
Design Firm: PMA (PolymorphArchitects)
Principal in Charge: Chuan Wang
Design Team: Xiaoyi Teng, Yujun Zou,Xiaoyu Zhang, Yiwen Liu, Ziyun Chen, Yi Shi , Xiaoju Liao, Marco Dambrogio ,Yuan Chen, Yongtaoliu(Schematic Design); Wenxuan Qiao, Haitao Ma, Ying Mu, Kun Zhang, Ruishan Shi, Jiayu Wei, Yan Xue(Design Development)
Client: Xiangzhou District Investment Construction Engineer Management Center of Zhuhai Municipality, Zhuhai Municipal Administration and Forestry Bureau
Local Design Institute: Zhuhai Institute of Urban Planning&Design
Land Surveyor: Shaanxi Institute of Engineering Prospecting Co.LTD (SIEP)
Contractors: Guangzhou Linhua Garden Engineer Co.LTD
Photography: © Li Wei, © PMA
