Nanning Resort Hotel

Additionally, the buildings were raised 8 meters so the entire public level has an adequate perspective view of the river and the landscaped private gardens of the hotel, also allowing for underground parking, service and back-of-house areas with at-level access to the service street. The conference and banquet halls have their own area with a private garden for events, and a shared entrance canopy.
For the overall façade design, our ‘Zhuang Palace‘ proposal, with a unique approach to the local architecture of the Zhuang minority and a touch of rich detail treatment was chosen by Wanda from among more than four design options.
The hotel was to convey a sense of pertinence to its location, becoming an interpretation of the local architectural and cultural resources. The research led to determine the Zhuang tradition as a rich source of inspiration both in its architectural features as well as some cultural traditions and artifacts.

On the other hand, the function of the building and the sense of service provided by a hotel to its guests prompted us to search for a way to elevate the local tradition to the appearance of a palace. Therefore, the main concept was expressed as a Zhuang Palace, with a strong supporting base elevating local architecture and culture to elegance and refinement.
Typical architectural elements such as the distinctive stacked roof structures and consecutive roofs, overhanging balconies and the elaborate wooden paneling, fenestration and lattice work in facades, were the source for what we called the “noble wooden mantle”, expression of the served area, whereas the serving area was expressed as a solid stone base that supports the wooden elements.
The light, delicate and noble wooden mantle that hangs from the roofs is mainly composed by the guestroom angled balconies to provide the best views of the river, corridors and the wooden paneling that articulates the facades. The stone-clad covered walls of the lower floors constitute a modern, elegant and solid base, containing the public functions and administrative areas of the hotel. This juxtaposition is the massing concept of the building, a perfect combination of heavy and light, solid and void. The roof design is an extension of the facade design and breaks the volume into parts that work together, with a clear central volume and end towers.

One single main entrance canopy, connecting the entrances of the hotel and the banquet hall, gives character with dimensions that express the high standard of the hotel. The hotel lobby is a flow-through transparent space, with a continuous axis from entrance canopy, main doors, lobby and exit to the garden terrace, bringing the landscape into the noble spaces in a relaxing atmosphere.
The end towers emphasize the vertical dimension in the vicinity of the access avenue while displaying the large traditional drum pattern as a branding motif for the resort. The design of the drums was taken from local culture and applied as a pattern for the large scale stone decorations on the facades and as a frieze that highlights the Piano Nobile of the building. The main design features of the hotel, noble stone columns and a floating wooden roof, conform the welcoming street side gatehouse.
In addition, the main design motif of the banquet hall is the traditional repetitive roof, to highlight the importance of the building as seen from above from the neighboring high-rises.

Wyndham Grand Boutique Hotels

The three buildings allow the hotel guests to experience a journey in time – both in architecture and interior design – through almost a century of German history and stylistic epochs:

From the elegant Neo-Renaissance (around 1870), via the opulent Eclecticism (around 1900) to the exalted Expressionism (around 1930).

The buildings’ names refer to typical features or important German personalities of their respective times: the peacock as symbol for luxury and elegance, the composer Johannes Brahms and the artist Otto Dix.

What can be clearly seen from the outside, in distinct architectural styles for each epoch, has been distilled and considered in abstraction in the interior design. A somehow German style and German story-telling makes it obvious to guests and users that this complex ensemble of buildings is united by one idea: which is to demonstrate the perseverance of German design qualities through time and through the turmoil of history.

Fuzhou Hengjie Heritage Intervention

Today, Wenchangli District is the most complete cultural area in the city of Fuzhou. In Song dynasty, Hengjie Street was the main road leading from Wenchang Bridge to Zhengjue Temple. It was the starting point for the development of the whole riverside district, north and south. During the Minguo period it incorporated the Catholic church and other notable landmark buildings. After 1949, its urban situation experienced a fracture with the development of new large scale residential buildings.

The central concept of this intervention project is the protection of the built and unbuilt heritage, and its gradual improvement, preserving the cultural and architectural values while organically incorporating business and commercial functions related to tourism.
The protection of the existing buildings and cultural experiences has the purpose of maintaining the existing sense of history, time and way of life. A step-by-step development improves the heritage in phases recovering the original culture and gradually increasing the content of experiences, according to the growth of demand in a reasonable combination.
The working background is formed by three main sources: The intervention level of the preservation planning done by CAUPD with historical and cultural background study; the architectural measurements, on-site discussion, technical exploration and analysis; and the commercial strategy and product definition.

The three main elements are combined to create a “New Hengjie Street”, based on: The physical heritage (i.e. the preserved and restored architecture and landscape); the cultural heritage (with the high culture of Linchuan and the local historical functions of the past); and the new touristic vision (with commercial functions necessary to attract and serve visitors).
The plaza at the main crossing is the heart of Hengjie Street. It embodies the most important values of the district in a warm and lively, elegant outdoor space: Mudanting Plaza.
The noblest Minguo and Gan style facades are restored and brought to view, linking them to Linchuan high culture – as elegant Hotel and Library.
All the historical functions are recovered, the bank and traditional craft workshops as exhibit spaces mixed with restaurant or cafés.

To the east we encounter the fabric arts and crafts area, marked by the Fabric Arts Plaza at the crossing of Dongxiangcang Street, where the Gan style façade buildings on both sides of the plaza are restored and repurposed as restaurant, boutique hotel and fabric arts workshops.
The main research and analysis was focused on finding an identity for Hengjie Street and covered the history of the Wenchangli district, its urban character and potential, its architecture and landscape heritage, and its own function of commercial history.
The urban role of the Hengjie Street sector is to create connections between the areas north and south to form a complete Wenchangli historic cultural district, incorporating all existing resources, serving as a “Linchuan cultural window”.

The existing situation reveals different conditions and architectural styles of different value. The preservation strategy will guide the intervention with the goal to highlight these values.
The architectural heritage is mainly expressed in the facades. The facade analysis revealed 42% Gan style, 36% mixed or damaged, 4% Minguo style, and 18% post 1949 modern.
In order to strengthen and highlight the architectural values, facades are restored, repaired and rebuilt, eliminating those with no value, reinforcing the historical character of Hengjie Street. Some modern elements are added to achieve a diverse, realistic town atmosphere. After the intervention, 80% is related to historical style, 7% is Minguo style, 6% is demolished for public spaces and 10% are modern elements.
Another source of identity is the original mix of commercial functions of Hengjie Street, which still rests in the memory of its oldest inhabitants. These functions are recovered and integrated as tourist resource, as exhibition spaces and workshops in combination with cafés and restaurants.

In the first stage of development and intervention, nodes 1 and 2 can demonstrate the strategy.

Node 1

The first operation is the creation of new urban connections required to improve connectivity and cultural synergy from north to south.
A new plaza marks the main crossing of Hengjie Street with this new north south connection. Both plaza and new alleys also reveal Ming walls, previously hidden to view.
The existing functions are recovered and restored as exhibition spaces with art workshops related to the traditional crafts sold on these properties.
The buildings with strong architectural value are preserved as relic houses.
A new boutique hotel is proposed, restoring the important Minguo and Gan style facades and preserving interior layouts, whereas in the deteriorated areas only the original spatial layout is preserved for new guestroom functions.

Node 2

On the crossing of Hengjie Street and Dongxiangcang Street, another plaza is proposed, demolishing modern buildings of limited value.
The existing craft shops are restored into the memory of visitors by repairing and rebuilding two fabric workshops.
A sculptural setting is created in the plaza.
Other buildings are restored as cafés, restaurants and youth hostel, in an alley which – in the future – will connect to the Central Plaza of the whole Wenchangli District.

Jinan Sunac Hotel Group

The hotel complex comprises several hotels and facilities with distinct features:

The “Wanda Vista” 6 star hotel (including Main Lobby Building, Spa building, 3 types of luxurious villas, as well as one presidential villa); the “Wanda Realm” 5 star hotel; furthermore a Conference Center and a “Confucius” theme hotel; finally a Bar Street overlooking the Hancang River.

Jinan has beautiful natural scenery, where many spring waters converge, with unique views many poets wrote about. Based on a specific historical and cultural environment, Jinan’s residential architecture has both the simplicity and weight of the Northern building style and the lightness and transparency of the Canal Towns south of the Yangtze River. RhineScheme’s design is based on these bivalent features.
Typical Northern-Chinese traditional buildings have been taken as reference, whose main architectural features are the ‘XieShan’ type of double-pitched roofs, heavy stone walls and a lively wooden façade design. These features have been adequately translated into the design of a mountain hotel. On the other hand, lightness is achieved in the treatment of architectural details.
The site itself is 10 meters below street level, which posed a challenge in the master planning stage.
Visitors will approach the resort area through a mountain road, where the scenery changes step by step. The master plan necessarily involved the landscape design, due to the pronounced level difference between the site and the surrounding planned streets. Also the slope of the site itself had to be considered (which is in fact the mountain piedmont), in order to achieve favourable unblocked views towards the east.
The topography of the site led to the placement of the higher and larger buildings on the top line close to the mountain skirt. The smaller buildings, i.e. the villas, descend towards the lower levels, with the conference center on the lowest. Across the street, the Bar Street area and Hancang River valley are limiting the complex.

The design of the hotel complex reflects Confucian culture in a refined and clear manner.
Both the main lobby building of the 6 star hotel and the 5 star hotel are aligned on the west side, creating an articulated and charming image, echoing itself the profile of Lianhua Mountain behind them.
Between the two hotels, the spa building serves as connector. Towards the east, the villas are arranged in parallel rows, organized along two artificial valleys that create open views: one in the axis of the hotel lobby, the other one leading down from the 5 star hotel building.
The overall design is like an epitome of the old city; it creates a unique and meaningful resort by following terrain and culture.

6* hotel
The lobby of the Six Star Hotel is a two-storey building that stretches horizontally across the natural water level. Combined with the infinity pool and the falling water feature, it achieves the effect of a wonderland – outdoor and indoor – like in an old Chinese painting. The building is kept in a so-called ‘new Chinese style’. The stretched flat-topped building is dotted with five different antique slope roofs. The top of the lobby adopts the traditional form of the ‘XieShan’ type double-pitched roof, thick but elegant. The falling water forms a contrast between vertical height difference and horizontal architectural form, and a contrast between vividness and tranquility. The combination of flat roof and sloped roof pays a direct tribute to the classic architecture of China during the 1950s and 1960s, at the same time gaining economic advantages.
Moving down the road there is a group of totally 75 villas, planned in accordance with the rich topography of the sloping terrain. Each villa has a broad view, while being hidden between green hills and trees.
The elegance of the entrance lobbies is in harmony with the general flexibility of the villas.

5* hotel
The “Wanda Realm” 5 star hotel consists of 250 suites. The entrance canopy forms a building interspersed among two wooden blocks. Together with the first floor colonnade and a ‘Xieshan’ type of roof it creates an atmosphere of classic Chinese culture.
The public area stands above the first valley. The valley falls suddenly and the height of the building rises sharply. In order to avoid the impression of an excessive building volume, the higher levels’ rooms are made of light-coloured wooden blocks, whereas the ground level rooms have a white coloured base. Finally, dark-coloured wooden areas and glass railings connect the two surfaces in order to create a light, almost floating building volume.
The “Wanda Realm” hotel – facing the street and with its backside close to the valley – expresses an elaborated architectural momentum, at the same time creating the required holiday atmosphere of a mountain hotel.

4* theme hotel
Still under development

Bar Street
Jinan Bar Street, along with the unique historical culture and humanist spirit of the city, echoes the city’s natural landscape system with “four sides of lotus and three willowy sides, of a city of mountains with a half city lake”.
The design takes the “spring” as the main topic and by that highlights the characteristics of the city. The bar street adopts traditional Chinese architectural style, extending the traditional vocabulary of old Jinan architecture and folk custom, creating a culture style bar street with the integration of spring and water, and the blending of history and contemporary habits.

Jinan Bar Street is designed for business, tourism and culture at the same time. By integrating different situational blocks, four main themes related with spring water have been developed: watching and tasting water, playing with water and listening to the sound of water.
The uses are: folk culture experience, high-end catering, entertainment and leisure, public facilities, exhibition, scenic or stage settings, and other formats.
The buildings’ elevations have been designed according to the geographical location of the project and the inherent cultural connotations. The bar street adopts the ancient architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. At the same time, it integrates local and traditional cultural symbols of Jinan and contemporary facade techniques.

Mentougou Industry Valley Masterplan

The crucial mission of the planning was to revitalize mountains and valley, to promote cultural innovation, to realize the rebirth of “black gold” and to value the  transformations of the 21st century. In an area with highly complex and diversified elements such as mountain and water, forests and fields, villages and mines, the questions were: How can contemporary life be carried on in a somehow outdated environment, how can this area become a spatial carrier with cultural connotation and ecological charm, and become a source of new vitality?

As a result, RhineScheme proposed a concept based on the motto “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, which means establishing regional connections, inserting new functions, reshaping mountains and streams, and building an immersive tourism and ecotourism demonstration area with China’s industrial civilization as main theme.

The linear development focuses on “catering, accommodation, transportation, tourism, shopping and entertainment”, and creates a full set of service systems which combines cultural tourism and eco-tourism meeting the travel needs of the whole family.

After realizing a series of interventions, a visitor cannot only enjoy the scenery along the way, but also take an exclusive train journey experiencing the immersive industrial culture of the site, and a fantastic adventure shuttle through the industrial world. A visitor will experience traditional crafts and pastoral life in the “folk custom tourism area”, retrospect lost civilization and its rebirth in the “industrial and mining heritage experience area”, and enjoy a moment of natural tranquillity and ease in the mountainous “leisure and recreation area”.

Typical attributes of the area were classified in order to realize spatial shaping of different characters. 3 types of spatial classification have been established:

  • Firstly, the space is divided into introverted and extroverted types as to their spatial feelings.
  • Secondly, history and future are defined in terms of the feeling of time. The historical perspective is superimposed with contemporary functions, and the functions are transformed accordingly.
  • Thirdly – based on the transformation mode – artificial landscape and natural landscape are classified. The historical development background is respected, while playful experience is added to it.

On the basis of the natural topography, a park system is created, which makes the mountainous land more completely displayed to the public, with realizing a series of connections within the site. This will ultimately drive the coordinated development of the area.

12 train stations are being created along the historic railway line. The starting point for the planning of each individual spot is taking advantage of the local situation and integrating the entire areas surrounding the stations. The principle has been: quality upgrading, with the aim of creating spatial nodes with exclusive features for each station and with unique views when roaming step by step along the line.

01 Mentougou station

Mentougou Station, as the hub station of the traffic artery through the landscape, will be a bright name card in the hearts of passengers and citizens by showing the future temperament of the urban area where the journey starts with an allegory of the regional landscape form.

02 Liuliqu Station & Village

Along the railway line, on the left bank of Yongding River, there is an ancient village with beautiful scenery with mountains at the back – Liuliqu Village. Many monuments can be found in the village, and the only yellow glaze-roofed Qing Dynasty overhead building in Beijing is preserved there, as well as the Pearl Glaze Tile Factory, the Brick and Tile Kiln Factory, the ancient theater, and the Temple of the Mountain God. The thousand-year old village of Liuliqu has become an experience center of glaze tile culture and national trending culture through renewal and revitalization for the entire resources.

03 Wild Creek Station

Depending on the terrain, the complex mountain topography is deconstructed into a series of surprises that pop up along the ground and design a natural ecological study base that respects ecological multidimensional sustainability.

04 Xiehejian station & Shuiyuzui Village

Xiehejian Station, the entrance to the West Beijing Ancient Road, is the place to enjoy the historical scenery. You can walk through Shuiyuzui Village, to Guandi Temple and Leek Garden Village via the Ancient Road Museum and Niujiao Ling Gate, or climb to the top of the mountain in order to enjoy the spectacle of the lofty mountains and high ranges. There are many boutique homestays around the site distributed in the village.

05 Dingjiatan station & Art Village

Dingjiatan is a beautiful rural field at the foot of the mountain, with large orchards and green farmland clustered around village houses. The railway line passes through the village, and Yongding River flows slowly by the village. The village renovated by artists and architects introduces high-quality industrial resources to create public art project for the village, renewing it as an art village through dissolving art into life and artistic scenes.

06 Leek Garden station

has rich agricultural products and cultural resources. Here you find the famous leek garden pickles, large areas of planted farmland with picking gardens, and historical attractions such as Leek Garden Great Cave, Peach Blossom Valley, Temple of Dragon King, Ma Zhiyuan’s former residence, etc. A station house with a spirit like a ribbon floating into the leek garden from the railroad, people can feel the controversial encounter of ancient and modern culture.

07 Seshufen Station & Village

As you go west, the mountains become steeper, and the village of Seshufen is nestled at the foot of the mountains. The village is high in the west and low in the east, forming several distinctive residential clusters from Yongding River to the railway line. The village focuses on rustic residences as its characteristics, with localized rural landscape, ecological countryside, and modern agricultural production to create a participatory leisure agricultural experience that integrates farming experience, knowledge and science, product sales, and catering services.

08 Wangping Station & Mine

On the basis of the protection of historical buildings, the environment and building heights in the surrounding areas have been improved, buildings, squares, mines and other elements have been renewed to better carry future-oriented functions and to create an industrial culture experience center.

09 Luopoling Station & Town

The new site of Luopoling station is chosen on the north side of the reservoir and set up separately from the freight station, providing a safer, more comfortable and beautiful station for visitors. In order to solve the problem of height difference between the track and the community of Luopoling, a unique cross-track trestle is set up to facilitate the transition from the mountain to Luopoling station house for visitors. The station features leisure, shopping, dining and entertainment in one facility.

10 Datai Station, River & Mountain Park

Simple buildings and those without special value have been removed, focusing on the theme of culture and sports, making compound use of the river space for the purpose of creating room for the development of sports functions and commercial services.

11 Muchengjian Station & Tourist Resort

With the mountain as the background in vertical dimension and the buildings as the foreground element in horizontal dimension, the aim was creating a high-end international tourist resort relying on the excellent landscape and topographic advantages by means of horizontal dislocation and vertical extension.

12 Qianjuntai Station & Village

Here the mountains look more majestic, the colors are more and more flourishing, in a ravine, above a large tableland garden. Qianjuntai station appears in front of the eyes with green roof tiles and red brick walls. The quiet ancient village of Qianjuntai and the memories of the old mining era are reborn with new vitality through the construction of the station and the newly created surrounding landscape.

Epilogue

Governmental sponsors on district and municipal level have organized this competition with clear goals: To implement the thought of an ecological civilization, to emphasize the importance of lucid waters and lush mountains as invaluable assets, to respond to the call of zero carbon strategies, to promote ecological protection and green development in ecological conservation areas, to protect the industrial heritage of the century-old coal industry, and to boost regional synergistic development.

Following RhineScheme’s overall planning concept of revitalizing the valley, it is possible to open a dialogue between historical culture and contemporary life.

Dongli Lake European Town

Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, in countries like Spain, Italy and Greece, a number of beautiful ancient ‘white villages’ can be found. The vernacular design of these villages forms a unique ecological and sustainable environment.
They are spectacular places which express the traditional life in Europe and provide a sense of relaxation, enjoyment and romance.The intention of this project is to become an alternative for the so-called ‘European style’ spread all over China creating a very unilateral image of Europe. It also tries to avoid the mistakes of unbalanced developments which end up in greatly artificial environments with cheap and unsteady character.

After intensive research in order to understand the key features that make the ‘white villages’ so special, it became evident that it is not sufficient to stay on the surface and just copy the architecture (facades), if one wants to capture the essence and atmosphere of these villages. A design method was developed that follows the organic planning, the pattern of narrow streets and squares of differing size, the scale, shapes and volumes of the buildings (traditionally painted in white) which altogether create this unique and vivid environment. 

Inspired by the architecture and urban planning of the traditional ‘white villages’, RhineScheme’s design incorporates winding streets, public and intimate plazas, charming white houses, varied windows and balconies, beautiful courtyards, lakeshore promenades, native vegetation, as well as an attractive mix of recreational, commercial, civic, leisure, retail and residential functions scattered across the master plan, all of which provide the intended casual, humane and lively atmosphere.

The design provides the highest quality of living, working and recreational environment. It emphasizes the difference between the busy urban character of the small town and the natural and quiet appearance of the adjacent ‘Wedding Park’.

The existing water landscape of Dongli Lake has been carefully developed, and additional landscape features have been integrated, creating a continuous urban landscape with unique view connections. People will enjoy an exciting mix of green relaxation and dynamic recreation, and experience beautiful lakeshore promenades in a splendid

environment. 

Sensitively planned open spaces and water features will enhance the quality of the alleys and streets; the elimination of cars and trucks ensures that the town is pedestrian-friendly and so becomes a pleasant and convenient place to visit, live and work. A car-free environment not only makes the air cleaner, but also allows buildings to be closer together, providing more shade while allowing maximum natural light.

RhineScheme’s proposal seeks great visual quality by adapting a simple and economic structure. The most useful way to do this is locating buildings in a flexible way, using a regular geometric constant that can be adapted to the different needs and uses.

Three big plazas have been created which structure the entire small town:

The Entrance Plaza is a welcoming square which opens to the main access road and parking area, serving as information and gathering point for visitors.

The Main Plaza is at the center of the town. It is surrounded by the most important and representative buildings (theatre, church, museum, roman baths). As it happens in many European towns, it is the public space where festivals, special markets, wedding celebrations, night-life and important events take place. The Main Plaza is the heart of the town.

By contrast, the Water Plaza is in direct contact with the lake thanks to a wooden pier which provides space for many different activities and beautiful views of Dongli Lake. It is a leisure-orientated plaza where people may enjoy outdoor restaurants, bars and coffee shops and different aquatic activities.

These three plazas are connected through two main streets, hosting a large number of galleries, fashion and arts-and-crafts shops. The stone-paved streets which casually change direction provide an easy walk and a peaceful and satisfying promenade.

Besides the main streets and plazas organizing and structuring the urban body, a white labyrinth of alleys, courtyards and small plazas has been designed that make up the rest of the town in an intentionally heterogeneous way, generating a variety of different spaces.

Building plots are organized by assigning different typologies of buildings, so that streets have distinct characters and atmospheres. The curvy narrow streets are perfect for exploration. Visitors will enjoy discovering beautiful tiny plazas, intimate patios, hidden cafés, and feel like taken to a different time and place.

All the proposed architecture – although inspired by traditional Mediterranean architecture – is original and specifically designed to meet its purpose and functions.

The arrangement of the urban structure is a direct result of the business development strategy: An elaborate business concept has been drawn up that aims at generating a lively city working 24 hours a day during 365 days per year.

If the planned hotels, shops, creative industries, offices and agencies, SPA and wellness facilities, restaurants, bars, cinemas and theatres want to run successfully, they need to be part of an overall and attractive tourism concept. 

To this intent, different activities and events throughout the year are planned to keep the business flourishing: in spring an Easter Market, Valentine’s Day festival, carnival activities; in summer Water Theatre and music festival, Mediterranean food markets, Spanish bull-riding; in autumn a Bavarian-style October Beer festival, grape harvest celebration, and an autumn market, and in winter ice-skating, traditional Christmas Market, and European New Year.

This business strategy – combined with the architecture and urban structure, landscape and lighting concept – will eventually create an atmosphere and character like in a typical European small town.

‘Love Island’ Changde

The business concept aims at a vivid inner-city district with multifunctional 24/7 uses in all floor levels – the mere opposite of any sort of Potemkin village that is dead after 6pm and above ground floor.
In contrast to the neighbouring ‘German Street’, the ‘Love’ theme suggested a more Latin inspired architecture with the warm atmosphere of the Mediterranean in the language of buildings, in colours, materials, open space design and landscape.

Size and location of the site inspired the proposal of a distinct urban structure of South-European character. European architecture from different epochs creates the atmosphere of a Mediterranean town, with small streets and alleys and a central plaza, and an overall flexible structure that can adequately host different functions.

The site with the Chuanzi River running in the south provides a unique and very valuable landscape with outstanding views toward the river, and also views from the river to the site. This feature is advantageous for restaurants and hotels, for water events and sport activities. For the opposite riverside and neighbouring residential areas it provides high-quality living adjacent to the water and to recreational areas. Last not least, the riverside park is extremely valuable for photo-shooting and hosting special events, here with a special focus on wedding or engagement celebrations.

A user-oriented concept: People and love

The project’s success lies on attracting the biggest possible variety of users: Young and old families, couples and singles, well educated & culturally interested people, or simply curious visitors with the wish to immerge into a foreign world to find distraction.
Why will people come? Who will come, and what will they do?
• People meeting people: Whether coming alone or with some friends, this is the right place to meet a special someone and fall in love.
• Couples in love: Young couples or older ones can enjoy a variety of activities while getting the chance to know each other even better or re-kindle their love
• Engagement: To propose to a loved person, ‘Love Island’ can guarantee the most romantic sceneries and events for a great surprise.
• Getting married: For a special and planned wedding the area provides various options for each couple and their families, for the preparations and for the day of marriage. Last not least by having ceremonies in opulent and exotic banquet halls with splendid river views and romantic Renaissance gardens in front.
• Families, neighbours and residents: Everyone in the surrounding areas will feel very welcomed to come and spend a nice day in family due to the countless fun activities available

The aim is to have non-stop day & night use during all seasons (24/7/365)
• Eating & drinking (catering): With facilities for day & night use, with close connection to European culture, theme restaurants, specialties restaurants from different countries, gourmet and typical (fast) food restaurants, bars, cafés, ice-cream parlours and juice shops.
• Outdoor activities: Renting shops for roller skaters, segways, tandem bicycles, paddle boats, canoes. Relaxing in the park, photo shooting. Seasonal markets like Christmas market, fish market, autumn fruit market, Easter market, flower market. European (national) festivals or events, like French wine festival. Cultural events like annual open air concerts (pop music in spring, classical music in autumn), shows, theatre, dancing or acrobatic festivals. All kinds of water sports or activities combined with water
• Indoor activities: Museum, cinema, speed-dating place, KTV, amusement arcades. Roman bath, wellness, spa, beauty salons. Wedding-related services like ceremony facilities, dancing school, photography studios, travel agencies.
• Shopping: All kinds of shops related with weddings (fashion, jewelry), food specialties shops (wines, bakery, chocolates). Wedding related arts and crafts from European countries.
• Hotels: Honeymoon hotel; small boutique hotels with at least 5 star standard

Urban and landscape structure

The masterplan proposes a playful arrangement with denser and less dense structures. The urban pattern develops different kinds of open spaces, yards and atriums, public squares and enclosed garden courtyards, with different degree of privacy, furthermore landscape-like gardens towards the river. The area features winding alleys with an intimate village-like atmosphere, and a big central plaza with the most representative buildings, suitable for hosting the main events and celebrations.
The church is the core and focal point of the development and its campanile is the outstanding landmark that can be seen from almost any location surrounding.

The overall urban character is romantic, elegant and relaxing.
Since one of the most important commercial concepts is wedding photography, all buildings and open spaces have been designed to serve as outstanding sets for outdoor photo-shooting.
All buildings have 2-4 levels, and towards the river, elegant and eye-catching facades.

The structural arrangement ensures that density, volume and fragmentation of the buildings are diversified according to the different functions that they occupy.
The circulation system of the site is a dense net of walkways with different hierarchies. The structure is highly permeable. Many passages run through the site in north-south-direction. With an additional landscape-axis, the waterfront and the park are connected with the urban hinterland.
A main walkway runs through the area from west to east, ending in the main plaza and focusing on the Bell Tower.
The main square also contains the main gate towards the complex, thus becoming the main articulator of all circulations.

The church is the iconic building in the main plaza and is, with its apse, directly related to the river landscape. A large lawn (with small groups of trees) surrounds the church and opens towards the river for outside activities.
With a long flight of steps the green area gently slopes down to the water and provides nice views over the riverside park, which includes groups of palm trees reminding of the Mediterranean.
In the other direction the open lawn allows good views to the church and the preeminent Bell Tower.

The required parking lots are mostly arranged under the elevated platform of the lawn. Additional surface parking space is available near the main entrance and the hotels.

Architecture

The design style is Mediterranean and Southern European, comprising stylistic and typological references from Spain, Italy, France and Portugal.
The aim was to achieve a charming mixture of simple and elegant buildings in a combination of different styles and epochs, which also inspire the thematic flavour of the private gardens. One of the rare instructions from the investor and operator was to focus on styles predating the 20th century; nonetheless some modernist or clearly contemporary buildings are included to create a more authentic and less artificial atmosphere.

The materials used for facades are mainly plaster, in Mediterranean pastel colours and textures, mixed with grey or beige colour natural stones and red clay roof tiles.
Facades are symmetrical, hierarchical, repetitive surrounding the main plaza and facing the river; they are more random along the smaller alleys, imitating a quasi naturally grown town quarter.
Main architectural design elements are arcades, balconies with metal railings, stone window frames, friezes and roof mouldings, columns and arches, terraces, pergolas and garden colonnades, as well as pavements and vaulted arcade ceilings.
Additionally, the overall lighting design and signage complete the comprehensive European style, as well as the careful and sensitive landscape design by LML, Berlin.

The secularized church – hosting a theatre-like multi-functional event space and named “Florentine Hall” – is the central element of ‘Love Island’, in architecture and in its immediate creation of urbanity. Its transitional location creates two totally different aspects. On one side we find the typical urban arrangement with a regular church-square and the irregular “village” behind. On the other (back-) side is the church surrounded by a vast lawn which gives an almost rural, countryside-like character.

Areas and typologies

• The  “S p a n i s h   v i l l a g e” (A10-A15): Inspired in traditional Spanish or Italian small towns, this area creates a small village with main and secondary alleys, passages, bridges connecting buildings over the street, with enchanted roof terraces and a small intimate plaza, ‘Piazza Cupido’.
• The  “I t a l i a n  P i a z z a” (A4-A9, A16): Inspired in the main squares of notable Italian cities such as Venice and Florence, the ‘Piazza del Primo Bacio’ hosts buildings for high class restaurants, shops and hotels.
The buildings are inspired in a mix of civic Italian and Spanish renaissance palaces, the church – in its main façade – by ‘Santa Maria della Croce’ in Florence, the Bell Tower by that in Rovinj in Croatia. Furthermore two expressions of modern architecture (A4, A8) can be found, the latter inspired in the ‘Palazzo da Civilità Italiana’ of the early modern movement in Rome. An urban colonnade flanks the sides of the plaza and includes the main gate to the compound, in the shape of a colonnade with fountain.
• The  “R u r a l  P a l a c e s” (A1, A2, A3): This group of three buildings meant to host wedding banquets and celebrations, are inspired in traditional rural palace architecture from France, Italy and Portugal. Each has its own private garden for outdoor celebrations, with richly ornamented landscape, enclosed and protected by a colonnade.
• The  “L o v e  M u s e u m” (A0): Finally, this piece of contemporary architectural design is meant to be a landmark on the river, visible from all adjoining waterfronts. It establishes an axial relation with the bell tower of the church, in close relation with the water and harmonious integration into the landscape of the park.
The architecture is modern, with light coloured steel and transparent glass as main materials. The building’s shape is a composition of two intertwined wedding rings, with a sculptural diamond in the center. Both rings create a continuous exhibition space, a linear exhibition that becomes a loop. The rings are interconnected to create continuity between inside and outside, indoor exhibition, outdoor exhibition and riverside terrace.
In the center: the Diamond, a glass-clad sculptural platform for multimedia exhibition.

Neijiang Cultural Tourism Town

Hanan Lake 

The Han’an Lake will contribute to the cities green lung and serve as urban gateway to enhance the image of the city.

Urban leisure projects such as trails and summer camps around the lake will enhance the value of the whole plot and a variety of water sports are set up; various events are held through the year to enhance the attractiveness of the project, inviting people to linger.

 

“Night Neijiang” Commercial Town 

The commercial buildings of the 1.5-kilometer-long town stretch around Han’an Lake and combine historical- with contemporary-culture.

One- and two-story commercial buildings with shop-front and terraces are main typologies, connecting the five landscape plazas of the town. Eight key buildings are positioned in proximity to the plazas and entrances to provide urban readability and tourism nodes. The town exudes a young and fashionable flair, relating to traditional Sichuan styles and blending it with modern elements; Modern materials merge with traditional sloping-roof alleys to create vibrant retail spaces with high recognition value.

 

Daqian Memorial Hall 

Located at the main entrance of the town, the facility carries the most important cultural value, related to the painter ‘Zhang Daqian‘. The whole building is stretched, coiled down and ascending again, and the natural flow line shows the form of a landscape painting, stretching smoothly, and creating a place with the artistic connotation of a dialogue between landscape and water.

 

Bamboo Forest Secret – Floating Restaurant

The wooden houses, hovering over the water, are a reminder of traditional local pastoral life, spreading a warm atmosphere. The combination of water, wooden houses and bamboo forests constitutes an ideal mood and invite tourists to linger.

 

Brick Castle – Sports Park

Colorful “building blocks” overlap each other and move layer by layer to form the basic architectural form, which is stimulating and dynamic, and is associated with the theme “sports”. The diamond-like shape of the entrance is combined with glass to make it even more unique.

 

Reflecting the Moon – Waterfall Restaurant

As the most important building along the center of Han’an Lake, the waterfall restaurant is inspired by the moon, creating the waterfall restaurant itself as the iconic landscape of the square.

 

Breeze blowing willow-Han’an Palace

Through the sculptural volume, combined with the flexible and smooth facade design, the palace conveys a uniquely romantic atmosphere of a banquet venue; The free-form is dancing in the wind like a swinging willow branch, silky and flexible, located in the center of the town like a piece of art;

 

Summer Sweetheart – Children’s Paradise

The building façade with unidirectional folding and mass interspersion is combined with rich color and glass material to increase the building iconographical appearance. The superposition of different sizes of spaces creates different spatial openness and enriches the experience, especially for the young visitors.

 

Sweet City Memory – Cinema

The restored cinema part is quite stylish, and the classical style column and gable restore the life of the former Neijiang. New buildings emerge from the “old buildings” while the sweet city seal is remembered to continue and pass on. With the classical French style of architecture and modern and simple metal glass material, Neijiang memory has been reborn in the collision between the old and the new.

 

The play box – a comprehensive cultural entertainment hall

The comprehensive cultural entertainment hall is inspired by the combination of vintage industrial facilities with modern design elements of urban renewal.

The crude façade materials and the simple modernist approach, supported by interspersed volumes, bright colors and sharp contrasts, gives the building the characteristics and energy of an entertainment culture.

Manshan Spa Eco-Town

Sheling town planning consists of a Core Functional Area surrounded by 4 groups of communities with different focus: Science & Education Area, Business & Entertainment Area, Rural Leisure Area, and Waterfront Cultural Community.

Manshan Spa Eco-Town is located between the Waterfront Cultural Community and the Business & Entertainment Area, key development nodes for the region at this stage. The government intends to gradually extend the supporting infrastructure and facilities to build this area into a modern, attractive, and sustainable community for the future.

Hot spring facilities and holiday tourism make the core of the Spa Eco-Town. But with the integration of culture, entertainment, health, and sports facilities within an attractive and accessible landscape, it makes the proposal of a modern, complex and diversified town.

Ecological principles for balanced urban developing are upheld, with great emphasis on water management and connectivity. This attitude will be deepened by RhineScheme in the 1st Planning Phase, river landscape and hotel, at the very west end of the site.

The idyllic riverside sets the tone for RhineScheme’s proposal for a town dedicated to well-being. The landscape design for the riverside encourages community integration by the strategic inclusion of bridges and facilities, such as an aviary within a full-length network of side paths, optimized to develop and preserve wetlands and healthy waterways. The Waterfront becomes an axis of leisure, for both active enjoyment and mindful contemplation.  And with a wide array of possible activities for all seasons, it is also a valuable asset for tourism, making its conservation a business investment as well.

The more touristic part lies also on the west side of the development. In the center the hot springs and spa complex is designed for relaxation and comfort. A resort to the north and hotel to the south, offer various accommodation to adapt to different visitors’ preferences. And lastly, a lively touristic villa with shops, restaurants, and experience centers offers multiple entertainment options related to the place and connects to the riverside.

Surrounded by the residential areas, the geographical center of the Spa Eco-Town serves as the “Living Core” of the communities. Conveniently located in the intersection of the two main streets, big-scale service, business, and commercial centers are stablished here, along with the primary and middle schools that serve the whole town. The largest area of the proposal area is dedicated to housing. A great diversity of residential patterns is accommodated and combined, to suit different possible tenants and promote high-quality everyday life. Small-scale proximity commercial, sport, healthcare, and educational facilities are integrated in the different areas and interconnected trough continuous slow systems of biking, running, and walking paths that promote a healthier, more active, and more sustainable lifestyle.

A holistic health care center as well as a Chinese medicine hospital are marking the end of the town to the East. Similar to the spa and hot springs area, the health-focused planning is sparser and designed for relaxation and comfort. Elderly housing and a care home are also part of the area.

RhineScheme’s comprehensive approach to Zhongyi’s Sheling Town development in Changchun, proposes an eco-conscious, dynamic, and diversified environment for visitors and residents to invest in their well-being.

The close commuting with nature, slow-pace dynamics, and varied entertainment and wellness facilities make Manshan Spa Eco-Town an ideal place to enjoy a healthy, joyful and sustainable lifestyle.

G9 Global Winery Resorts

Lee World G9’s first chateau, in the southwest of Lee World G9 Global Winery Resorts, covers an area of about 113 mu. Chief consultant of historic building restoration of Versailles in France, Jean-Pierre Errath, took charge of the architectural design. RhineScheme provided consulting services on G9’s master planning, the landscape of the first plot French winery, and the design of the main gate.