The Pearl River Delta has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past four decades, evolving from farmland to a global manufacturing and technology powerhouse. Amid the frenetic pulse of this sprawling megalopolis of 86 million people, Sanshan Hillside Park stands as a mountaintop oasis.
Envisioned as New Town’s Central Park, the design embraces the very infrastructure that defines the region’s growth by utilizing Sanshan Mountain’s existing topography and ecosystem to create thematic zones. A wilderness belt encircles the mountain, protecting sensitive natural slopes, while a web of trails provides access to park amenities, including a library, café, elevated canopy walk, and water gardens. The space beneath the high-speed rail bridge has been reclaimed as a public fitness area, and a hilltop observation deck offering visitors the unique experience of “train spotting.” Clever landscaping and strategic vegetation placement mitigate transportation noise.
Aligning with “Sponge City” guidelines, pond drainage swales and rain gardens improve water quality and reduce flood risk. The “Resiliency Edge” connects the park to urban neighborhoods through a system of lakes, waterways, and seasonal rain gardens, doubling as drainage infrastructure.
The park’s commitment to preservation, reuse, and enriching cultural spaces provides a refuge where health and wellness are prioritized. Here, visitors can truly appreciate sweeping views of the region while enjoying a respite from urban life.
Lin'an High Tech Park
Lin’an Qingshan Lake Forest Technology Park offers a premier destination for high-tech and green-tech businesses. Designed in harmony with nature, this mixed-use community will foster productivity and connections to its physical and cultural setting, providing a vibrant mix of uses and a business culture appealing to a wide range of international enterprises. ...
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...
Lynwood Mega-Playground
Inspired by the city’s rich history of aerospace research and manufacturing, Lynwood Mega-Playground brings a dynamic space exploration-themed playground to the heart of the Central Los Angeles city.
Completed in Fall 2024, the playground transforms the Northwest corner of Lynwood Park into a colorful spectacle with super-sized play features including a...
Changchun Tractor Factory Renovation
Once-industrial site re-imagined as a commercial complex with eye-catching public spaces.
For this site, which was once an industrial tractor factory that epitomized Changchun’s thriving industrial past, SWA provided conceptual design through implementation to transform the former of Changchun Tractor Factory into an eye-catching public realm that fulfi...