The concept for the Kunming Eco-Town is based on an understanding of the historical natural processes of the location. The masterplan restores balance in the landscape through sensitive development. In using a watershed planning approach to determine the most sensitive lands and subsequently, where development is appropriate, the issues of a healthy, functioning restored forest drove the design concept. The idea of a restored forest includes ecological concepts such as high-quality air for breathing, high-quality water for drinking wildlife habitat, and a diversity of species associated with the vegetation. With restoring the forest as the large-scale design concept, a detailed site visit, and computer GIS analysis revealed lands with the appropriate carrying capacity for the proposed development. A land-based approach was used to achieve a series of highly integrated communities. The enclaves for each community lie on the appropriate topography to avoid extensive grading activity and its inherent ecological degradation. The elements of the communities include a mix of uses to be as self-sustaining as possible. Program items such as housing, retail, education, health services, and communications are organized within walking distance.

The big idea is to allow residents access to common, everyday goods and services without needing an automobile. Additionally, the concept of community enclaves surrounded by high-quality forests is intended to inspire a logical and efficient use of energy and infrastructure in the development of each area. Sustainable technologies seek to: treat and reuse wastewater, reduce peak flows associated with introduced urban stormwater runoff, orient buildings to reduce heating and cooling loads, use passive solar collection to reduce energy use, and luster development to preserve and restore forest and hydrological corridors.

The landscape concept is based on ecology and habitation living in balance and includes the integration of green roofs and native landscape features. A fundamental example of this balance can be seen in the wetlands throughout the project. A visitor finds great diversity in the plant material, the purity of the air, the clearness of the water, and the presence of wildlife. Underneath the surface of this beauty is a working landscape that greatly reduces the energy of the nearby built environment. These functions include: the capture and treatment of stormwater runoff for groundwater recharge and reuse in non-potable applications, biological treatment of community wastewater to sanitary levels, and as a holding pond for the required water supply for irrigation and fire protection.