Concept
The new sustainable residential district of Wuhan owes its conviviality and attractiveness to the principle of permeable urban fabric which promotes pedestrian routes and articulates the changes in scale between vertical elements and horizontal routes and accesses.
Situated alongside the new commercial and business centre, and amongst the diverse existing urban landscape, the new residential district occupies an area of 152 hectares. Elements of the existing heritage are integrated within the new layout, such as traditional worker’s housing. Permeating and shaping the whole scheme are the notions of capillarity, permeability and the use of multiple thresholds, which are inspired by urban traditions in China.
Program
The ambitious urban plan for the new district can be summarized by six principle aims:
– To create an urban centre with a human scale. To use gradations of scale for buildings and public spaces, and create a «walkable city»;
– To concentrate development in the vicinity of public transport networks. To adopt the TOD metropolitan strategy for locating densified urban centres in relation to metro stations;
– To promote functional diversity. To create a living and working environment where all needs are within walking distance;
– To enhance the well-being of city dwellers. To create public spaces which are comfortable all year round, to reduce urban heat island effects, and provide a maximum of green areas;
– To put in place a well-planned storm water management strategy. To facilitate the storage and recycling of rainwater and reduce the risk of flooding;
– To promote conviviality and interaction. To provide shared space to encourage social interaction, and create a hierarchy of spaces from public to private.
Team
Client
– Client: Wuhan Land Use and Space Planning
Project Design Team
– Architect Urban Planner Landscape: Arte Charpentier Architectes
Project specifics
– Title: Wuche «Quartier de vie»
– Address: District of Wuchang
– Postcode: 430000
– Town: Wuhan
– Area: 157 hectares
Photo credits: DR Arte Charpentier Architectes
