SWA, in association with Morphosis Architecture and CHNW, developed a vision for the future of Kaohsiung Harbor Wharfs, which includes 114 hectares of prime waterfront property formerly used for cargo shipping. The site, located in the shipping heart of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was historically subjected to environmental neglect and rampant uncontrolled development. A shift in thinking towards economic growth and environmental consciousness inspired the Kaohsiung Renovation Project Competition. SWA’s urban design proposal provides the city with major public amenities based on sustainable planning practices, innovative programming and adaptive reuse of existing structures. The concept employs creative financial and physical design strategies that look at reconnecting the old neighborhoods with the new waterfront plan. The wharfs are designed with goals of biodiversity, brownfield remediation, and the re-creation of historic mangrove habitat. By combining notions of nature and culture, the design fosters a new sensibility in planning. The cohesive design intends for Kaohsiung to have the opportunity to expand program elements along the waterfront such as outdoor dining, shopping, and tourist activities, and provides an environment for the people of Kaohsiung to connect with and enjoy their city.
Guicheng Riverfront
After winning a design competition in 2017, SWA undertook two projects within the Guicheng Riverfront park system, a defining blueway and leisure loop belt. The two completed parks – South Bank Waterfront Park and Eco-Island Park – are designed with distinct programmatic elements and characters based on the riverfront’s surrounding land use and urban settings,...
Huamao Center
Huamao Center adds a major civic destination to the edge of Suzhou’s old town. Occupying 23.5 acres along the historic Shantang Canal, the project layers retail, office, and hospitality space into a human-scaled district rooted in the area’s history of water-based commerce, known for its classic Jiangnan water-town architectural style, with narrow lanes and st...
St Johns Riverfront Design Incentive Strategy
As part of a larger effort to establish its downtown as a center for business and culture during a period of unprecedented growth, the City of Jacksonville was in need of a design and investment strategy for its underused waterfront along both banks of the St. Johns River. The design team’s approach entails both a large-scale and a node-based strategy, identif...
Fuyang Riverfront
Seizing the area’s reputation for “one of the best mountain and water views in the world,” the natural framework along both sides of the Fuchun River inspires this plan integrating urban spaces with landscape to create a harmonious skyline. Fuyang flourishes with economic prosperity while honoring its vibrant cultural heritage.
The scope includes urban d...