Kunshan, China, located near Shanghai, has experienced unprecedented population and business growth in recent years which has resulted in environmental degradation and the need for the city to reshape its identity. SWA’s proposal aims to create a new waterfront district providing businesses as well as residents with public amenities and viable open space. The master plan balances development and environmental conservation on the Wusong Riverfront by employing highly detailed infrastructural systems that integrate cutting-edge hydrological design and land planning. The water treatment system acts as the central organizing structure of the site by introducing a sequence of several pools and channels that remove targeted pollutants by settling, filtration, aeration, and bio-processing in alternating oxic and anoxic environments. Existing storm pipe outlets that previously discharged directly into the inner bay are retrofitted, allowing water to pond onsite and flow over land in bio-swales before entering the treatment system or inner bay. SWA’s design also seeks to reconnect the population and river by maximizing the waterfront edge for varying scales and layers of experience. The perimeter of the bay is designed as an open space system with interconnected bicycle and pedestrian paths. Sustainable systems created by the compact master plan create a comfortable outdoor microclimate, encouraging people to use alternative, eco-friendly means of transportation. By designing a comprehensive sustainable network of water-cleansing and climate improving systems, the project exceeds development objectives while creating a new riverfront park for the residents of Kunshan.
Ningbo East New Town Civic Plaza
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 plann...
Shunde Guipan River Waterfront
SWA participated in a competition reimagining 19-kilometers of the Guipan River waterfront in Shunde, China. While the Pearl River Delta is one of the fastest growing regions of Southern China, one of the many casualties of this growth was the delta itself. Presently, Shunde has a growing flooding problem enhanced by channelizing, condensing, and containing th...
Amber Bay
The Amber Bay residential development is located on a beautiful rocky promontory that is among the last available parcels along the Dalian shoreline, southeast of the city center. The project features high-end low density modern style residential development including single family villas, townhouses, and low-rise condominiums; shops and seafood restaurants on...
Longgang River Blueway System
The Shenzhen Longgang River Blueway System is envisioned to unlock the tremendous land value of this 13-mile-long suburban watershed and galvanize the city’s future growth. SWA’s proposal addresses urbanization issues pertaining to water, the environment, and open space shortage, while also activating industrial and cultural revitalization in the surrounding d...