64-Urban Design

Anshan is China’s steel capital. The city was founded in  the Ming Dynasty in 1387. Its steel industry started in 1916  and saw biggest development in the first three decades  after CCP took control of China in 1948. The city suffered

economic decline in recent two decades as demand of  steel dwindled. The city haven’t been able to compete  with Dalian or Shenyang due to lack of economic diver-  sity. The government calls for a revival of economy and  announces a plan to build a new town in the south region  called Tanggangzi.

Tanggangzi is known for its natural scenery and tourism.  The phase 1 of New Town has an overall area of 55 sqkm.  Its central dynamic zone (CDZ) of about 8.9 sqkm. It will  include civic centers, government centers, commercial  CBD, tourism centers, and conference centers. After win-  ning an international design competition, SaaN was com-  missioned to provide comprehensive guidelines for urban  design and real estate development in the CDZ.

SaaN’s planning scheme establishes four criteria for  the new town: active city, open city, beautiful city, and  healthy city. A sustainable model of ecological city is used  to design the physical forms of the CDZ, which is based on  Anshan’s topography, CDZ’s functional relationship and  requirements of a humane environment.

A total of eleven (11) urban parks are creat-  ed within the CDZ along with twelve (12) city  centers of special functionalities and urban  theme.

There is a natural waterway running through the site,  from which three dams are designed to form a meander-  ing lake and river system for the CDZ. Storm and drought  prevention are systematically designed with this water-  way system. It provides a focal center and the dynamic  source of energy that link the entire CDZ together.

Several axises are established as binding and driving forc-  es for circulation and passage, including north-south po-  litical axis, east-west commerce axis, vee-shape art and  technology axis, and arc resort-leisure-celebration axis.

The skyline of CDZ is designed to correspond  with various building density, and be har-  monic with natural scape of hills in the back-  ground. The goal is to maintain a garden city  appeal. Locations of landmarks are designed  to give CDZ unique identity and distinction,  such as the Anshan Steel Tower at the entry  of CDZ, the re-adapted Art-District from ex-  isting locomotive engine plant, Civic Circle,  the marshland mile, and the Water Plaza,  etc. Architectural guidelines are specified  for each special use district. Zoning require-  ments are compiled for each land-use parcel  in the entire CDZ.

Xi Hu Golf Villa

Xi Hu Golf Villas
Zhejian, PRC

A total of 170 villas, designed in a contemporary style and ranging from 450 – 750 m2 (4,800 – 8,000 ft2). The landscape has been worked extensively to create a park-like setting for the homes. In addition to the golf course, residences have access to a private clubhouse with formal dining area, pool, and tennis courts.

Sang City Resort Guilin (IDA)

Sang City Resort
Guilin, PRC

Guilin is a popular tourist attraction in southern China, famous for its unique topological formations. The city receives approximately 12 million visitors every year. The municipal government has contracted with ‘The Sunshine Group’ of Beijing to create a specialized tourist attraction at the site of the original city. Approximately 70 acres of the historic village still remains, including an old fortress and the original wall of the city. Adjacent to this will be a historically themed 700-unit hotel/time share resort. Across this street will be a modern entertainment and shopping district which will feature local crafts, entertainment, and a full range of restaurants in a festive environment. The shopping area is bordered by 1.25 million square feet of luxury condominiums and has a separate full service tourist class hotel overlooking the mountains and lakes which surround the site. IDA collaborated with CITIARC in designing the overall layout and buildings.

Hangzhou Hillside

Hangzhou Hillside
Hangzhou, PRC

This development consists of 250 independent and attached single family villas on a hillside in a scenic and bustling city outside of Shanghai. The villas are of a contemporary design and range from 350 – 650 m2 (3,750 – 7,000 square feet). All units were sold before construction was completed.

Dongping County Tourism Planning Dongping, Shandong, China

Dongping County Tourism Planning
Dongping, Shandong, China

Dongping County sets its goals to be a significant center for cultural tourism. In preparation for this, Dong Ping is considering development of a long term Master Plan for cultural development throughout the City.

Development of a universal theme for a vacation which will have universal appeal for a variety of families and individuals. Given the nature of the existing heritage mountains and  Baifo Mountain the theme should be centered and reflect a calmness which is prevalent in Buddhist culture-Qi. Qi can be obtained through enjoyment of experiences which provide spiritual comfort, physical comfort and exercising your mind. Existing and new opportunities have been grouped to provide convenient and comfortable options for creating a variety of personal vacation choices. Baifo Mt will define itself as Spiritual Retreat Destination for people to enjoy spiritual comfort and calm. The Theme Park will also have Buddhist, Confuscious and Taoist themed accommodations and restaurant venues.

Hangzhou Public Transit Company

Hangzhou Public Transit Company
Hangzhou, PRC

As land became increasingly expensive in Downtown Hangzhou the Public Transit Company did a competition for a master plan for office facilities for Public Transit and their key service providers/suppliers as well as exhibition space for new projects and a storage/logistics facility for their service department. The total program consists of 2,000,000sf. This project won the competition and is expected to go into construction by 2010.

China Central Place

China Central Place
Beijing, PRC

China Central Place, known as the Hua Mao Zhong Xin, opened in 2007. The 1,000,000 m2 mixed use complex is located in Beijing’s CBD. Designed by the international architecture firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), the master plan includes residential, retail, two hotels operated by Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott, and the offices of 70 industry-leading multinationals, including Deutsche Bank. The site is located on Chang’an Boulevard, Beijing’s primary east-west axis. The architecture of China Central Place was designed by KPF as a striking composition of diagonally faceted glass volumes whose appearance is softened at the lowest five stories by terra cotta screens. Within the site, the component buildings define two major public parks of over two hectares each. OPC built up a team to manage sales, planning, customer service and research to position and assure adherence to the master plan and market suitability. In addition, it set up the successful sales systems, and participated in bringing on board.

Sindosy – Busan Single Tower

Sindosy
Busan, South Korea

Sindosy Design Group, a major architecture and engineering design firm in Busan, Korea, asked for WQB Architecture to assist in the development plan for a new mixed-use site on the seaside in the Hyundai area of Busan. WQB provided programming and site plan options for development of a retail plaza with a 1.2 million SF tower which included a 400-room 5-Star hotel and luxury condominiums. The design criterion was to provide a plan which allowed public use of the retail plaza while ensuring total privacy for the hotel guests and condominium towers. The retail plaza was positioned to provide a new energized streetscape across from a very popular public beach. WQB’s design met the environmentally sustainable requirements of the project by developing, among other features, a green roof on the retail base which provides a public park at the third floor level.

New Rochelle

WQB Architecture assisted the Manhattan Dioceses of Catholic Church in rezoning and redevelopment of Blessed Sacrament Church in the center of New Rochelle which included a historic building and two abandoned schools on 4 acres of land. Designs were prepared for 400 new apartments to be developed by Kingdom Partners at the site, work included restoration of the existing historic stone church.