Sugang Park, Shunde by Guangzhou S.P.I Design

Built in 2024 / 2025 Built Landscapes / 2025 Entries / 2025 Public Projects / China /
gz-spi.com

Sugang Park is located in the center of Shunde City, Guangdong Province, China—an area characterized by high population density, intensive urban development, and limited space for public activities.

The project draws on the theoretical frameworks of landscape justice and sensory availability. For the designated study area, it proposes strategies such as the activation of underutilized spaces, regeneration through functional superposition, compensation via green space replenishment, and the enhancement of both physical and mental perception.

Implementation Strategy
This initiative adopts a dual approach, combining top-down and bottom-up methods to support community revitalization. It encourages consultation and cooperation among various sectors and promotes active involvement of residents and neighborhood committees in the design process.

Three-Dimensional Equity System
Equity in Facilities: Community infrastructure is integrated to enhance spatial quality.
Northern Forest Belt: Development of an all-age activity hub, with multi-functional facilities for the elderly and children.
Southern Open Area: Transformation into a community sports center, featuring multi-purpose venues and vitality equipment.
Mobility Optimization: Implement time-segmented road closures to convert vehicular space into flexible zones for resident activities and parking.
Equity of Activities: Underused green spaces are repurposed into shared recreational areas, promoting equal access to outdoor engagement.

Boundary Reconfiguration
Visual Guidance and Exploration: A continuous park loop blurs the physical separation between the park and surrounding neighborhoods. Curved paths create visual suspense through rhythmic patterns of concealment and openness, stimulating exploration.
Tactile and Kinesthetic Experience: Curved seating and undulating terrain offer a variety of tactile experiences. The terrain enhances balance and dynamic feedback, aligning with the “behavior-environment” principle in sensory availability theory.
Natural Metaphor and Psychological Affinity: The curved design reduces the mechanical feel of urban infrastructure, fostering a sense of belonging and emotional comfort within the space.

Ecological Equity
The project maintains the core spatial structure of “Northern Forest – Southern Open Space”, optimizing it by thinning tree clusters and opening the canopy.
By introducing micro-rain gardens into the rolling terrain, a livable microclimate is created for both residents and small fauna.

Ecological Psychology Applications Behavioral Elasticity: Non-linear paths encourage spontaneous and diverse usage patterns due to spatial ambiguity.
Ecotonal Simulation: Fluid boundaries mimic natural edge ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity and climate regulation.

Localized Landscape Creation
Public restrooms are preserved and enhanced through landscape renovations. Local materials like cement bricks are used to build Lingnan-style screen walls. Regional identity is further emphasized with native plants and iconic architectural elements inspired by Lingnan culture.

Innovative Contributions
This project establishes a four-fold renewal model for urban regeneration:
“Spatial Affirmation – Sensory Empowerment – Community Coexistence – Localized Creation.”
The concept of landscape justice addresses a complex array of goals, responsibilities, and social aspirations. Embedding justice-oriented values into landscape design contributes significantly to spatial equity and environmental well-being, while also advancing the broader cause of environmental justice.
As an inherently interdisciplinary field, landscape justice demands engagement across multiple domains. This project seeks to deepen its understanding through practical, cross-disciplinary exploration, offering new perspectives and methodologies for sustainable urban and landscape development.

Other credits:
Client: Daliang Subdistrict Engineering Construction Management Center
Design Team: Hu Sun, Songmin Liu, Jingwen Chen, Kainan Xin, Jie Wang, Weiqing Wang, Songlin Mo, Xiaodong Liang, Manlian Huang, Zhihao He, Wenyu Fan, Chongzhu Zheng, Yan Chen