Guiyang Hot Springs, located in Guiyang City, China, brings together the rhythm of the Nanming River, and surrounding trails and trees to create a new urban ‘living room’ in the interstitial space created by new development and roadway infrastructure. Nestled into a mountainous site, the master planning addressed elevation changes of up to 100 meters and the existing relationship of its topography and watersheds connected with the river. The vision incorporated a strategy to preserve ecological corridors while allowing for future development and tourism. The Phase 1 design uses the natural landscape framework and pathways along the river valley to guide a new circulation artery and community parks, emulating the concept of a flowering river. Linear terraces for green corridors reveal expansive views, while harboring varying habitats and facilitating ecological growth without extensive intervention. The subtle manipulation of the land creates seasonal creeks which change dynamically and reinforce the ecological and environmental habitat. The circulation network is accessible to pedestrians, bicycles, cars and boats, forming a major transportation system along the ten-mile river. Based on the rhythms of movement, water and trees, the design for Guiyang Hot Springs provides a natural respite within an urban environment that gives a corridor of community space to the people of Guiyang.
Halperin Park
In the 1950s, I-35E was routed through the South Dallas community of Oak Cliff, demolishing a thriving Black commercial corridor and one of the first Freedmen’s towns established after the Civil War. In the decades that followed, as in so many cities across the U.S., freeway construction severed long-standing social and economic ties and set in motion decades ...
Panyu Central Park
Panyu Central Park breaks the boundary of the traditional gated community and promotes sharing of open space among residents and visitors. This neighborhood development is the hub for a dense urban community, raising its visibility and value and setting a high standard for open space in the area. The park provides welcoming activity space for all ages with its...
Xili Lake Greenway
Encircling one of Shenzhen’s four major reservoirs, Xili Lake Greenway is the third segment of the 200-kilometer Kunpeng Trail to be completed under the city’s Mountain-Sea-City corridor initiative. Navigating over 16 kilometers of diverse terrain across upland, densely forested, and urban landscapes, the trail connects Xili Science and Education City, 18 tech...
Bayou Greenways
As one of the largest U.S. cities, Houston’s sprawling, car-centric infrastructure is underpinned by a vast arterial system of over 2,500 miles of bayous—an untapped ecological feature that could redefine urban life.
Recognizing this potential, the Houston Parks Board worked alongside SWA to develop a visionary plan for nine central bayous as an i...