“Ichigaya Forest” is the privately owned, publicly accessible, major open space on Dai Nippon Printing Company’s 5.4-hectare new world headquarters in the Shinjuku Ward. Vertical development and production modernization that extends underground was made possible the creation of this 3.2-hectare open space. Over half the site is now planted with native trees, shrubs, and ground cover, creating a unique urban forest with peaceful pathways and small plazas to accommodate the 10,000 DNP employees and their Ichigaya neighbors.
The design team’s vision of returning a mature native forest to this dense urban neighborhood serves as a catalyst for similar future developments, and sets a precedent of resiliency for this Asian megalopolis. To recreate the native forest, SWA developed a “native” soil profile and natural drainage processes to promote infiltration and reduce runoff. Natural stormwater management processes are designed to enrich the forest and keep all rainfall on the site. Hardscape areas are minimized, to reduce surface runoff and heat island effect. Natural pavement materials are used in the secondary pedestrian circulation throughout the site, both to minimize environmental impacts and to look and feel like forest paths.
Ningbo East New Town Eco-Corridor
SWA provided planning and design services for the 3.3km long, 250-acre metropolitan Ningbo Eco-Corridor, which transforms a former agricultural plain that had been taken over by industrial use into urban green infrastructure. Located in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta on China’s coastline, Ningbo is one of China’s oldest cities, with an area of 3,616 squa...
Evelyn’s Park
In honor of their late matriarch Evelyn, the Rubenstein family donated a historically and geographically prominent five-acre tract on the busy Bellaire Boulevard and created a conservancy to fund a public park with primarily private funds, while engaging the public in its design and development. This park seeks to be reflective and adaptive to the local cultur...
Canvas Park
Canvas Park is an activity-packed recreation center at the heart of Regions North, the latest addition to the growing New Haven community in Ontario. Centering on sports, family play, and social activities, the park offers a 5,000-square-foot lap pool, flexible lawn spaces, sport courts, and reservable outdoor spaces that residents can use for private gatherin...
Xingfa Cement Plant Quarry Park Masterplan
Beijing Xingfa Cement Plant Quarry, founded in early 1990s, an exposed scar of rocks locates between the Great Wall and Yanqi Lake, is being reconsidered into an ecological and picturesque rural park in relationship with the adjacent regenerating cement plant. Established around the contextural culture, research, and technology oriented position, the design fo...