Nanjing Greenland International Commercial Center is an urban high-rise project containing two major sites, A1 and A2. The 450-meter main tower, Zifeng Tower, with its concentric rings of mixed trees and linear water features, is the focus of the A1 site. The landscape design encompasses existing parks as well as the adjacent historic features in order to present an environment that is totally integrated with its urban context.
As a historic and recognizable urban feature, Drum Tower and its concentric rings of mixed trees are the focus of the A2 site. The landscape radiates from the central tower, forming a pattern that ultimately extends onto the A1 site. Sidewalks along North Zhongshang were widened to include an urban parterre garden consisting of hedges, colorful perennial flowers, and seating that emphasizes the street’s importance. The parterre celebrates the commercial vibrancy of the street and allows easy and convenient pedestrian movement between the ground floor retail stores and the adjacent street. A diagonal axis, originating from the Drum Tower circle, extends northward across the site and forms a generous pedestrian pathway that includes linear water features. The double rows of trees along the main streets are established in order to emphasize and strengthen the streetscape.
Guangzhou Vanke Center
Guangzhou Vanke Center incorporates commercial, and office uses in an urban setting. To echo the “cascading” concept of the architectural design, the landscape architecture was inspired by the fluidity of water, as well as the unique local cultural heritage of dragon boats. The design provides for different types of social activity with variously scaled spaces...
One Uptown
Bringing a singular landscape design expression to a site featuring two buildings designed by different architects, the SWA/Balsley team worked to seamlessly integrate a variety of outdoor spaces to accommodate the mixed-use One Uptown. At the ground level, tree-lined streetscapes and bike lanes lead visitors to a coworking and dining courtyard along Burnet Ro...
Beijing Finance Street
Awarded after an international competition, the Beijing Finance Center Master Plan creates an international destination in West Beijing. The project, which includes a mix of uses—housing, retail, hotel office, and cultural facilities—is focused in terms of the landscape design of a central park known as “The Heart” of western Beijing. SWA’s w...
Williams Square
For decades, Williams Square has been the walkable “living room” for Irving, Texas’s Las Colinas community. The plaza’s iconic bronze mustang sculptures, designed by artist Robert Glen, are among the state’s most iconic landscape features, speaking to the state’s identity and history.
SWA’s engagement with the plaza is longstanding, dating back to the 1...