The biggest breakthrough in landscape design in the south garden project lies in the handling of the mountain terrain, the “slow and fast ” of rainforest and cactus plants, and the use of “iteration” in plant design and selection to deal with the temporal and spatial changes of the landscape. We have used over 300 drought-resistant, low-maintenance, and slow-growing cactus plants, combined with over a hundred local fast-growing rainforest plants, to create a biodiversity system in the community. At the same time, we attempted to express the appreciation of traditional Chinese garden theory, such as “make a small space looks large” and “winding paths lead to secluded spots”, using modern design vocabulary. Throughout the design, with pure and simple space and materials, and few decorations, people can return to tranquility in the mountainous surroundings, appreciate the beauty of nature and the interest of plants, and establish a more intimate connection with the land. The project has successfully rejuvenated the vitality of the area and has gradually grown into a beloved garden community that coexists with nature in the mountainous and seaside environment.
The project faces some challenges: Firstly, early development have caused damage to the site and the texture of the mountain, resulting in the lush greenery of the valley abruptly stopping outside the red line of the site; Secondly, on the site with a vertical drop of almost 35 meters, the landscape space is extremely limited due to the high-density buildings left by the previous development, and there are many factors that cannot be repeated or moved. Faced with these site restrictions, how to restore the connection between the site and the mountain, and between people and nature; how to overcome the unfavorable conditions of the original site, adapt to the local conditions, establish the “skeleton” of the landscape, and create the essential factors of the landscape – terrain and plant design, handle the elevation changes in a natural way, and spread greenery to the maximum extent in the community, restoring the natural feeling of the mountain forest land, becomes the objective of the design.
In terms of the layout, we have reorganized the relationship between buildings and roads, carefully considered the elevation, and established the spatial framework of the landscape. The road system, reorganized as the “capillaries” of the community, is arranged with small gardens in strip or dot shapes along the homecoming route of the main entrance, roads, alleyway intersections, alleys, and courtyard entrances, spreading greenery into the site. The South Garden does not have a fixed pattern or standardized approach. Instead, we look for the most suitable solution for each specific demand. The way to enter the building, the distribution of planting spaces, the setting of retaining walls, and the choice of materials all grow and develop in accordance with the site conditions, resulting in 41 different alleys formed along the mountain.
Cactus plants are applied to public and community landscapes on a large scale for the first time in China.
Since the demonstration area was built in 2019, it has undergone three years to witness the adaptability and large-scale viability of Cactus plants. In fact, Cactus plants are native to the beaches and tidal flats of Sanya, and are well-suited to the local climate, with a rich variety of horticultural groups. They have unique advantages in low maintenance and water conservation, and are highly adaptable to poor soil and dry environments in artificial construction environments. By making use of the height difference and ensuring the pore space for root growth through proper drainage on the original site, Cactus plants can grow vigorously.
During construction, seedlings of rainforest plants are used, and breakthrough in height and width can be achieved after 1-2 years of growth, forming dense tree shade and a green background layer. However, Cactus plants mostly have slow growth rates and are used as focal points at entrances and in front of feature walls. The spatial relationship between different plant species in terms of height and density can be maintained for a long time. The growth rates of the two types of plants, one fast and one slow, support and complement each other in presenting the spatial relationships in the landscape and in creating an interesting composition.
Design Philosophy – Keep Simple and Respect the natural growth cycle of plants and give them space
In the 20-hectare South Garden, despite the limited site conditions, every potential public green space is extremely valuable, and the design “keep simple” is still necessary. A place for sufficient relaxation and growth can carry meaning beyond function, and material restraint allows spiritual abundance. Blank space is an invisible landscape that allows people to better appreciate nature and beauty.
Location: College Road, Jiyang District, Sanya, China
Design year: 2019
Year Completed: 2022
