As an extension of the Ningbo East New Town Government Center, this civic plaza extends the geometry and ecology of SWA’s past work in the city. A central civic axis runs from the government buildings to the Dongqian Lake edge, providing a large, flexible gathering/event space adjacent to an expansive lawn as well as sweeping views of the water. Per city planning guidelines, the lake required a hard edge to the west of the main axis. This takes the form of a wide terraced stair that establishes spaces for viewing and relaxation, while also acting as a geometric and spatial extension of the Planning Museum and its associated outdoor spaces.
Just to the west of the main lawn, a formal tree bosque occupies a partially sunken garden, lined with terraced seating and surfaced in decomposed granite. The easternmost part of the lake edge traces an organic irregular shape surrounded by lush and varied aquatic plantings, blending seamlessly into the eco-corridor site to the east. A secluded cluster of islands provides wildlife habitat, incorporating birdwatching blinds along a wooden boardwalk. Taken in total, the design creates a unique landscape experience to serve as a driving principle for the city’s ongoing development.
Sava Promenada at the Belgrade Waterfront
This one-million-square-meter waterfront development, the single largest regeneration project in Serbia’s history, aims to create a world-class, sustainable destination for civic and cultural attractions, forging human and physical connections to the Sava River where none existed before. Located near the historic town center of Belgrade, the site’s...
Dubai Hills Boulevard and Public Realm
Envisioned as a garden oasis strategically situated where city meets desert, Dubai Hills will be a vibrant yet elegant mixed-use community for 21st-century living. The key public realm element of this massive 1,000-hectare development is a 5.6-kilometer urban boulevard lined with shops, residences, and offices along the district’s central spine. SWA/Balsley de...
OCT Bao’an Waterfront Cultural Park
Bao’an Waterfront Park is an essential amenity for future residents of Shenzhen’s rapidly expanding Qianhai area, and is also an important connection between the urban fabric and the ocean. The key landscape frameworks for the park are its riverine interpretation aspects and water’s edge programs. The “Eco River” will bring water experiences into the green spa...
Nelson Mandela Park Master Plan
Identified by the City as one of its “Big Five” open space projects, the conceptual master plan for Nelson Mandela Park will create a much-needed central open space for the city’s south district, an industrial area along the waterfront that is home to a growing and increasingly diverse population. Here the city seeks to transcend its current park paradigm of l...