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By : Ballistic Architecture Machine
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 17th edition
Discipline : Landscape & Territories
Categories : Landscape Architecture / Landscape Architecture - Housing Project : Gold Certification
Categories : Landscape Architecture / Landscape Architecture - Public Space : Gold Certification
Categories : Landscaping / Terrace & Landscaping for Housing Project : Gold Certification
In the heart of Shanghai, where affordable housing is a growing concern, the Qixin Road U Community stands as a beacon of innovative design and social responsibility. Developed by SIIC, a forward-thinking developer, and a design team featuring the acclaimed landscape architects at BAM, this project addresses the urgent need for accessible living spaces for the younger population.
Design Philosophy and Execution:
The project features a series of Modernist towers housing compact apartments, surrounded by a thoughtful array of public spaces comprising gardens, play fields, plazas, and leisure areas. The architectural strategy involved a careful zoning of high-rise structures to distinguish public and private spaces, complemented by low-rise community-focused buildings including a sports center, restaurant with beer garden, and a retail area.
Innovative Landscape Design:
The landscape design is noteworthy for its strategic use of patterns to delineate different zones. Public areas are adorned with a distinct ‘+’ pattern, replicated in custom light poles and movable benches, while peripheral zones blend paving and hedge planting through a plaid grid. A variety of pathways, each marked by unique linear patterns, seamlessly connect these zones.
Ecological and Aesthetic Planting:
The planting scheme is organized within a 5 x 5 meter grid, predominantly featuring evergreen broadleaf trees, orchard varieties, and the beautifu Triadica sebifira. The public zones are further enhanced with lush, tropical plants native to Shanghai, set against a backdrop of volcanic pebbles.
Recognition and Impact:
This prestigious project has garnered attention from government leaders across Asia, becoming a model for affordable, healthy, and enjoyable living. It has been awarded “Best Apartment of the Year” in Shanghai, triumphing over 75 new developments.
Qixin Road U Community Affordable Housing is more than a residential complex; it’s a testament to the Modernist ideal that design can create vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable urban living spaces.
Collaboration
