The Haixin Bridge North Bank Landscape Renewal Project is located on the northern side of the Pearl River, connecting the CBD with various landmarks for a total project area spanning roughly 44,000 m², including the renovation of Bridges 3 and 5.
Bridges 3 and 5 comply with pedestrian connectivity and Haixinsha Grandstand emergency evacuation requirements. In summer, the dark asphalt pavement and lack of greenery used to heat up the bridges to extreme temperatures. How to improve these scenic sites and increase their aesthetic appeal while safely evacuating crowds in an orderly manner remained a challenge. To meet these different needs, the landscape design must be functional, versatile, and provide comfortable and accessible outdoor spaces.
Our design team adopted the strategy of “Connection + Evacuation + View”, that is, link up Bridge 3 with Bridge 5 to optimize pedestrian circulation, and then connect to Haixin Bridge through a landscape bridge, effectively linking up the north and south banks to create a landscape promenade. This interconnected, non-motorized passage contributes to an uninterrupted view of major sites along the Pearl River. The pedestrian circulations were divided into three different ways on Bridge 3 based on a simulation analysis of pedestrian circulation, which included a river crossing route, a grandstand evacuation route and a scenic route. The new design guides pedestrian evacuation flow and facilities viewing scenic river spots by incorporating a flowerbed layout and visual cues in the landscape pavement. Asphalt pavement was replaced by 18mm quartz bricks to meet the road surface requirements for fire trucks.
Traditional culture is also reflected in the design elements. Flowerbeds placed on the Bridge 3 resemble traditional Guangzhou flower boats floating on the Pearl River. The plants not only reduce the “heat island” effect, but the edges of the flowerbeds also serve as seating to pedestrians. Following sustainable design principles, existing trees and lighting structures are all preserved.
Our design team offered up several innovative solutions to solve the limit load problem of Bridges 3 and 5, which were unable to support heavy landscaping installation or tall plants due to structural load restrictions. To minimize the flowerbed weight on Bridge 3, the ends of the contour-shaped flowerbeds gradually slope toward ground level, seamlessly integrating into the pavement design. These flowerbeds are built with precast hollow concrete, which can lower the load on the bridge while solving the problem of installation on the curved bridge surface. On Bridge 5, paving patterns were constructed by lightweight pavement materials and designed to integrate into the existing expansion joint.
Following its renovation, the Pearl River North Bank has become a popular recreational space for local residents. The linking of the north and south banks of Pearl River has infused the CBD with life and energy.
Other landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape (if any): Guangzhou Teamer Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Project location: China
Design year: March 2020
Year Built: June 2021
