Zhangjiawo SOHO

Main planning aim was hence to create a vivid, modern community which mainly appeals to the younger generation. Clearly recognizable clusters with semi-public courtyards create a friendly and communicative, at the same time safe living space.

The proposed typology of buildings is reflecting wishes and possibilities of young people – medium and small-sized apartments with a big variety of additional spaces: as private gardens, terraces, balconies – all of them bright and with good solar conditions.
Affordable (first) apartments with these qualities are rare to find, making this project an exceptionally good choice for young people.

Furong Lake View Community

The medieval European town has served as an image for this new residential area: surrounded by a wall, with a vivid small-scale structure inside, and opening up to a river – or in this case: to Furong Lake in view distance.
A specific element of the site is its terrace situation: Most of the site is on a higher level than the surrounding streets. This characteristic topographic element is emphasized by pedestal buildings on the northern and southern secondary streets, and by open terraces between the buildings facing east. It also allows an easy access to underground parking areas.

High-rise buildings are mainly concentrated in the southern part of the site, facing a green belt.
The space between the high-rises is the location of different types of squares, with different functions and characteristics, like playgrounds, roof-covered spaces, botanic gardens etc., providing a vivid atmosphere and neighbourhood spaces of high urban quality.
Along the southern road, the gaps between the high-rise slabs are filled with (European) street townhouses which can be entered from the exterior public street and from the interior community street. These townhouses with their human scale avoid the effect of a tall and closed city-wall on the south side of the plot.

The traffic concept integrates a substructure of pedestrian walks, which are separated from the streets. Those walks connect neighbourhood squares and green areas and lead to each row of townhouses. The townhouses have hence direct access to both the street and the interior landscape areas. This structure provides a high open space quality and a clear division between public and semi-public areas.

Fisherman’s Dock Residential Community

Its Western border is close to two main city roads which provide an easy connection with the city centre and the future Eco-City.

3 different urban layouts have been explored; the clear separation between a high-rise and a low-rise part shown here turned out to provide the biggest advantantages in terms of marketing, property management, and economic development.
A proportion of 70:30 between apartments in high-rise buildings (26 levels, 90-140 sqm) and those in town houses (200-250 sqm) was intended.
Townhouses have been designed as terraced row-houses allowing higher densities while keeping a rather peaceful privacy for each household. The biggest terraces are south-oriented; big glazing opens towards the overall good views. To avoid overheating in summer, wooden shutters have been planned for all windows facing south and west. Also the set-back walls of terraces are covered with wood to create more comfortable spaces.

Suitable to a seaside location, the buildings’ colours are bright and graceful. All facades are kept in sand-yellow colour. Combined with the wooden elements, a warm, friendly, humane atmosphere is created. For the ground floor part of the facades a darker brown-grey natural stone is used to emphasize important parts like entrance and living room.
High-rises are designed in a similar style. All apartments have at least one terrace. South and west oriented windows have wooden shutters. Generously glazed areas provide all apartments with good views to the sea.