Concept
The subject of an urban planning and programming study, this Franco-Sichuan district of Chengdu, will be developed along the theme of perfume and its fabrication. The new project will be organised around cultural, touristic and exhibition activities.
The site sits in a valley between two ranges of hills which delimit the site to the north and south. The urban plan places emphasis on the conservation of natural features of the landscape, such as the valley, the hills, and the connections between them to preserve natural water courses. The road network, utilises the existing routes where possible, to minimise the alteration of existing topology.
The urban structure is well-defined and incorporates diversity within the urban fabric such as the hilltop park, the green valley, and the ecological riverbanks. Three centres have been envisaged to the north, middle and south for technological, commercial and touristic, and educational activities, respectively.
Environmentally-friendly transport infrastructure includes the extension of the existing tramway network from the neighbouring science district, and continuing it on to join with the over-ground metro line to the north. In addition, an electric bus service is planned for the locality. In general, the distance between living and working places is kept to a minimum in order to encourage travelling by foot. This also goes for the distance between residences and areas catering for leisure and after-work activities.
The site will also welcome tourists, and, in addition to the extension of the tramway and metro lines, there will be a series of routes using different means of transport, such as a network of footpaths and cycle tracks on the river banks, a tourist bus route and river trip.
Establishing a system of ecological criteria is critical for the adaptation of the site and the creation and management of sustainable urban development. One example is the integration of drainage and appropriate materials in highway infrastructure for the capture, storage and filtering of rainwater.
Program
The site covers a total area of 137.75 hectares, of which 128.55 hectares represent the built environment and 9.2 hectares represent aquatic areas. 3D modelling enabled the analysis of different features and aspects of the landscape, including orientation, slopes, soil, vegetation, and water courses to best define the areas needing conservation.
Team
Client: Chengdu Tiantou Real Estate Development Co. Ltd.
Architect: Arte Charpentier Architectes
Technical Team: Sichuan Provincial Architectural Design and Research Institute (SADI)
