A valley landscape within a series of amalgamated and disparate plots of land developed over some years posits an opportunity for the surrounding strata residential clusters to be stitched together as a better cohesive whole. This time, the wetland park serves three objectives – to improve water quality through sustainable means along the creek, to better integrate the existing circulation networks and to identify key focus areas for further design accentuation. During our exploration, we analysed and proposed the lake as a climax and new visual focal point to the launch of its hillside villas edition.
The advent of the landscape concept was very much borne out of numerous site visits, understanding the existing terrain in trying to retain as much of what was done well previously and what should be added to highlight the qualities in the valley. In so doing, the approach became interestingly organic and sporadic even though we were clear on the onset that a collective visual identity in the gardens should be achieved at the end.
We created a rain garden as a foothold along the waters edge below the lake which acts as an environmental and bio-filter for the natural waters that come from the forest uphill. This slows the white waters and aids in ground water recharge to the surrounding environs.
A circular ring floats atop the lake with a panoramic view of the rain garden below whilst a series of beetle nut pavilions under the existing palm grove are linked by a meandering walk into the valley plain. Here grated steel decks skirt around the cattails in the creek to reveal the river and allow a closer proximity to the waters for visitors. As a rain garden with a varying water table responding the prevailing climate conditions, the walk presents a pleasant surprise at different times of the year. We also manipulated the topography at selected points to manage potential flood conditions. With new walkways and bridges, ramps and terraces to link up adjacent developments by foot and buggy rides, the wetland park hopes to create a more conducive and welcome place for all to linger in.
Team: Jerome Lee, Ray Wan, Puyu Wang, Ken Qiu, Katherine Zou
Project location: No. 181 Xueyuan Road, Jiyang District, Sanya, Hanian, China
Design year: 2017
Year Built: 2018
