Promenade Parcel
The multilevel structure will seamlessly connect the office development on the west, ground level pedestrian street and the greenheart garden on the east. It will not only integrate the site with the wider pedestrian network but also create shelter for ground floor walking street and spill-out spaces. It will activate the promenade by providing a good environment for outdoor activities. In order to improve the legibility and visibility for commercial frontage at ground level, existing big sized trees will be partially transplanted to open the visual corridor. This delicate and functional multi-level structure will help improve the image of the project and become an important urban node in the area, named the ‘Promenade of Dreams’.
Parcel 4: Mixed-Use
With the mixed-use developments distributed across Qianhai’s largest transport-oriented development (TODs), Tierra sees the potential to develop a strong people-oriented landscape scheme that ensures the whole development is well connected through the provision of high quality public spaces.
Parcel 4, named the ‘Dancing Ribbon’ is located to the north west of the development where there is also the gateway to the MRT station. This parcel comprises commercial at the podium levels with office towers, as well as apartment and hotel at upper levels. The key objective of the design is to turn parcel 4 into a vibrant and functional node that welcomes visitors from the MRT station and guides the circulation across the site.
The ‘Dancing Ribbon’ concept take cues from the design language of the overall masterplan, with intertwined curves sweeping into parcel 4 from an urban core called ‘The Green Heart’, connecting back to the promenade. Within parcel 4, the landscape is strategically divided into 4 distinctive zones laterally: 1) the High Tech Aurora Plaza (极光科技广场), 2) the Forest Walk (森林步道), 3) the Fantasy Canyon (极光峡谷), 4) the Waterfall Oasis (瀑布绿洲). Three zones seamlessly flow through the site with the dynamic Dancing Ribbon elements (paving pattern/lighting/atrium planting/WSUD water feature), creating visually engaging spatial experience within the parcel and integrating its permeable circulation into Qianhai’s wider pedestrian network. Vertically, well thought out multi-layered greenery will add the forest-like atmosphere to the commercial zone. Podium levels will be activated with highly accessible public spaces while roof tops are proposed to be F&B and bars to facilitate social activities.
Parcel 5-1: Hotel
SZMRT Parcel 5 comprises two modern highrise hotel and residential towers perched atop a retail and civic podium, anchored upon the central axis of this development. Tierra’s proposed landscape design celebrates the axis, introducing elements that bisect the vertical plane while serving as focal points that tie both halves of the parcel together.
The L1 civic plaza actively invites visitors from the promenade into the interactive and lively plaza space. A central water fountain featuring colorful lights is the keystone that transits visitors from the entrance area toward the retail shops. Situated across the length of both towers, the retail souk reimagines the Arabian bazaar, injecting flavors of vibrancy and life deep into the building. Above, at the L4 drop-off, a giant specimen tree demarcates the vehicular roundabout that serves both the hotel and residential lobbies. This tree aligns vertically with the water fountain below and hanging sculptures above, extending the axial relationship throughout the floors.
The hotel tower and residential tower are adjoined by a mid-air skybridge, providing a limitless vista across the outdoor infinity pool which connects to a private skydeck with a sheltered outdoor jacuzzi and relaxing lounge areas. By activating the mid-air residential void deck and introducing lush greenery to the spaces, the aim is to bring people closer to nature.
Parcel 5-2 & 7-2: Residential
The original Parcel 7-2 is a residential development consisting of 7 highrise buildings sited over two parking levels L1 and L2 above ground and two parking levels B1 and B2 below ground. Situated on the southernmost end of the development one meter above the Promenade, the site sits on one very large flat surface 1.2 m above the plaza deck level and on another deck 14 m above on which two high end residential towers are situated. The entire development is oriented towards the southern views of an existing river and beyond. Tierra’s intention is to add two additional levels to the original L1 level, thereby creating four parking levels created by the terracing above ground. By redistributing parking lots from the second basement level upwards, the lots on B2 level would be eliminated and residents of each Towers would be able to park closer to each of their tower building entrances. This redesign would save excavation and basement construction costs. By creating four terraces instead of the two original ones, the 14m tall back wall was also removed and in its place four equally stepped terraces were created which allow for a much more interesting distribution of amenities onto four levels instead of all on one large level and a smaller one at the rear. The resultant master plan design is now a terraced hillside development stepping incrementally down to the riverside plaza. Each added terrace would now be accessible and have a relationship to all the towers’ adjacent floor. Views to the south would be enhanced from level to level while amenities would be separated, creating dedicated functions.
The lowest L1 terrace is accessed at the south by a security entrance which engages the Plaza. This L1 terrace is served by a large water fall from L2 and raingardens are situated here. This level is the “Gateway” Arrival level from which access to the other levels start from. An elegant glass elevator rises up to serve the other upper levels while accessible ramps gently connect all terraces. A meandering skywalk serves the highest L4 floor and from its vantage point allows magnificent views of the surrounding city as well as the amenities on the other terrace levels as it winds its way across L4.
L1 being the lowest terrace level is where the rain garden is. Rainwater for the entire site is guided to this area to be harvested, cleansed by plants in rain gardens. L2 is where the children’s garden and playground is located. L3 is where the 50-meter length infinity swimming pool, aqua sports pool, jacuzzi and shallow play pools are. This area is reserved for cabanas, gazebos, daybeds and lounging – activities for adults with young children. L4, where the high-end residential towers are, is reserved for family activities and occupied by yoga pavilions, barbeque decks and a jogging track.
Just behind and situated within a garden-like space, is the light well “oculus”. Its opening celebrated by an elevated curved ramp that is surrounded by lush greenery. Residents can walk from L3 to L4 while enjoying the light filled environment filtered light reaches the Porte Cochere “grotto”, within the domed space.
An access road planned to run across the back lane of the site seems ill conceived and was destined to be busy two-way service road. Running across the entire rear from the south end to the north end of the development, it seems to only function as a convenient road for back of house activities. Upon closer look it’s really quite an important access road connecting many different levels to the commercial block podium and residential towers at Parcel 5-2. Each commercial level at Parcel 5-2 is linked to each residential landscape level at Parcel 7-2 with security gantries in between, provides an inclusive design that enables the residents to experience both parcels comfortably. At the L4 roof level of Parcel 5-2 where the residential amenities are located, the landscape is connected seamlessly with Parcel 7-2 L4 by a closed loop of flowery jogging track and some pocket gardens.
The residential Towers Terraced Garden entry to the carpark areas are through this back road. From its secured entrance, a tunnel like entrance leads to a hidden porte cochere within a large enclosed Pantheon-like volume where floors are carved away to reveal a four-storey space open to the B1 level from where shade loving trees (Brassaias umbrella trees, tall Tasmanian trees ferns and other low level light planting) spring up. This is a four-level volume of space with cascading plants and hidden lighting to promote interior plant growth from B1, L1, through to L4 levels form the interior cavern-like space. At its apex through an opening, light is transmitted through the applied tracery from the sky above.
