OVERVIEW
Hangzhou boasts its role as one of the world’s top scientific research cities. Hangzhou Future Technology City is a newly developing science and technology-based district. The venture is designed to combine livability, mobility, and sustainability. Planned public transportation, responsible development, and mixed land use are key ingredients of the plan.
Hangzhou Future Technology City is punctuated by a set of pavilions, guided by themes of urbanism, science, technology, and art. The RFC pavilion focuses on the rapid development of the city. Strategically, the RFC landscape offers a soothing and restorative immersion experience for users, a respite from the city.
More broadly, the site facilitates community connections with the adjoining canal. Restored riparian landscapes are also used to manage flooding and establish a destination public realm.
SITE CONTEXT
Hangzhou is developing rapidly, with new buildings and municipal infrastructure changing the face of the city. As new residential areas are introduced, improved design standards are proposed. Such standards and principles are showcased in the future pavilions.
In Hangzhou, a globally acclaimed network of canals reflects a rich and purposeful history - for trade, transportation, drainage and flood control, and public realm. The Jing–Hang Grand Canal is the longest canal in the world.
The RFC Future pavilion sits on a canal tributary and is organized to sensibly respond to the canal ecology, physical and social environment. The pavilion and landscape play a role in weaving together streets, pedestrian and open space systems, including a central park.
SOLUTION
PEDESTRIAN-CENTRIC
The RFC landscape establishes a rare, truly waterfront development and pedestrian greenway system. The development is strategically integrated with the larger pedestrian network and includes a uniquely expressive jogging track. The well-equipped track celebrates beautiful scenery and pedestrian destinations.
CONNECTING COMMUNITY AND CANAL
Site planning principles included the desire for harmonious relationships between mixed-use communities and canals, and an open and accessible public realm. Water features are intended to visually “extend” the canal surface to the public realm.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL CANAL
The canal system includes dams and locks, to both manage floods and improve water quality via stepped water circulation devices. While revitalizing the basic environmental functions of the canal, the landscape design also plays a role in protection and reconstruction of the 173-meter-long, canal-fronting landscape. Fluctuating water levels inform an ecological approach to riverbank design: water-tolerant plants such as pond fir, cattail, and iris; and erosion control devices.
SUMMARY
Quality of life comes from the design and personalization of the project. Personalization comes from the respect for and understanding of the site, as well as detailed expression of the place’s spirit. Futuristic design comes from subtraction, conditioned by respect for nature.
The Future Exhibition Hall of the RFC pavilion occupies the central area of the Future Technology Center, opposite Yuhang Central Park. Site planning and landscape design introduce nature into the limited site area and recreate a scenically contemporary wooded nature park, a place to relinquish the hectic daily routine. A landscape that cannot wait to project itself into the future.
