PUBLIC SPACE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE - DONGGUAN, CHINA
Architects: eLandscript Studio
Area: 2480000 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Tianpei Zeng
Lead Architects: Qian ZHANG, Xiaolu TANG
Project Background, With the upgrade of Dongguan's manufacturing industry, an increasing number of talents are attracted here resulting in more construction of subways and intercity railways. Given the 8 km Slow-Traffic Green Axis from the Regional master plan, the team proposed a master plan of Dongguan Slow-Traffic System with a total length of 3 km in the central zone of Dongguan.
Vision. With the vision of "Social Loop & Green Necklace", the team analyzed the site surroundings’ demands in three aspects: disconnected points, urban parcels with the potential to increase value, and green corridors that are discontinued. It also adds several vertical lift cores integrated with retail. The proposed plan invigorates the urban zone and shapes a better-serviced Dongguan.
Social Loop. The 1.5-kilometer-long Social Loop connects the most popular and high-density places in Dongguan City core areas, including Central Park, Civic Center Phase I and Phase III, Minying IFC, Dongguan Rural Commercial Bank, Tai-Shang Building, Jia-Hong Building, and First international block. Considering site limitations, Bridge No. 2 cites a maximum span of 103.5 meters crossing the boulevard. The design adopted the continuous steel beam structure and a 10-meter arch with 54 cables. Additionally, there are flower boxes and viewing platforms for people to stay and linger at the center of the deck beam. Bridge No.1 (park section) integrates the elevated bridge, the park, the subway entrances, and the sunken plazas to create a dynamic shared public space in central Dongguan. The Bridge No.1 (park section) will be constructed after the subway construction is completed.
Green Necklace. The 1.5-kilometer-long Green Necklace connects Central Park, the Xigualing area, the Planning & Exhibition Hall, Huangqi Plaza, qifeng Park, and Huangqi Mountain Hiking trails. This tree canopy bridge ties the city core and the nature mountain together.
All entrances in the Xigualing area of the Green Necklace are designed to be accessible. The proposed routes avoided original trees on site and integrated with a tree-canopy stage, several pergola trellis, platform connected with subway lifts. It aims to provide convenience and functional spaces for local citizens. The Qifeng Park section will be constructed in conjunction with the development of the Huangqi Plaza.
