The Amazing Zhangjiagang Town River Reconstruction

Zhangjiagang Town River Reconstruction, by Botao Landscape (Australia), in Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. Zhangjiagang Town River stretches 2,200 meters along busy commercial streets in Jiangsu, China. It begins at Gudu Harbor and extends to Gangcheng Boulevard, with an average width of almost 12 meters. Despite its large size, as the city began to expand around the river in the early 1990s, pollution started to overtake the water as raw sewage was drained from the surrounding houses directly into the river. The city didn’t have the means to clean it up due to the proximity of the houses, and the water quality began to suffer. This pollution began to have a huge impact on the city as a whole. The people soon became so overwhelmed by the dirty river, traffic congestion, and a failing infrastructure that they decided to seek help to clean up their beloved river with the hopes that the city would benefit, as well.

Zhangjiagang Town River Reconstruction

Botao Landscape was hired by the Zhangjiagang municipal government to not only clean up the river, but to also clean up and reorganize the city. Starting with a few black and white sketches, the design evolved into a complex new infrastructure for the city that includes lush plantings and a breathtaking display of lighting at night. The design team’s plan included a new road layout, with updated intersections and underground parking to resolve the problems of traffic congestion; a new ecological waterfront park meant to serve both the ecology of the river and still be welcoming to the people; and, finally, a new commercial and shopping district to improve the economy.

Modern Chinese Style Botao describes its design as a modern Chinese style with simple elements added to bring out the spirit of Chinese culture. The project is divided into three distinguishable sections: the Gudu Harbor block, the promenade garden block, and the former parking plaza block, which are all connected by the river. But at the center of the design lies the redesigned harbor. Related Articles Showcasing Landscape Architecture in China:

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Reflecting the Jiyang Culture Curvilinear lines, native plantings, and mixed materials representing the five elements combine to create a space that is a reflection of the Jiyang Culture. History and life abound here, with architectural references to old dynasties and cultures that are meant to remind the modern day city of the past that built the harbor and all that surrounds it. Splashing in the Once Dirty Water Here, people can simply walk along the water and reflect on the past or look to the future, as local children splash in the now clean water where delicate lilypads float around their bare feet. Designers were able to clean up the river by redirecting the flow of rainwater and by developing a dredging system. The design team was also thoughtful of the surrounding cultures that exist today. They made use of pavilions, plants, and walls to mimic the scenery found to the south along the Yangtza River. Old bridges were repaired instead of replaced, and symbols representing the “Eight Forbiddens” were used as artwork along the Gudu Harbor in honor of the people of Old Yangshe. A Mixed-Use Space  Function was also brought into play. The design team included a coffee shop, an exhibition building to display public art, and public toilets to satisfy the needs of the municipality, all without sacrificing the design. Chinese architecture attempts to achieve a delicate balance between building for function without overbuilding — which can become cumbersome and unpeaceful — and building for beauty. Highly Skilled Spatial Design The concept of “show” and “hide” came into play in this area, where designers “hid” the exhibition building among the surrounding trees and allowed the coffeehouse to be visible — or to “show” — by facing it toward the riverbank in open view due to its commercial nature. The public restrooms achieved a balance of both by being easy to find yet slightly masked by the surrounding greenery. Bringing Peace to a Once Chaotic Place The designer’s details even included bus stops arranged with the convenience of the city’s residents in mind. This was all done with the hopes that the design would bring a sense of peace to a once chaotic place, keeping with the overall spirit of the site and of Chinese architecture. Design Based on Philosophy This design philosophy to fulfill human needs can be found on Botao’s website: “Along with the rapid development of (the) Chinese economy, residential buildings are growing faster than ever, and people want more (from) their living environment. Modern landscape design … should be influenced by modern abstractionism and cubism. Modern landscapes should embrace the industrial point of view that style and function are both important and create a modern functional landscape space based on human (needs).” Born Again Landscape  This philosophy is not only at play here but has also proved to be a successful form of design. A city that once was literally falling apart has been born again, and while modern-day conveniences were added with much success, culture and history were not sacrificed to bring about the much-needed change. The designers at Botao created a space where beauty, function, and history all combine in an intricate design that manages to bring about joy, playfulness, and thoughtful reflection. Surely, this is a lesson that all designers could learn from. What did you learn?

Full Project Credit for Zhangjiagang Town River Reconstruction: 

Project: Zhangjiagang Town River Reconstruction Location: Zhangjiagang City Price Control Bureau, 70 Renmin Middle Road, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China, 215600 Design Team: Botao Landscape (Australia) Size: 65,000 square meters Client: Zhangjiagang municipal government Project Style: Modern Chinese Style Show on Google Maps

Recommended Reading:

• Landscape Architecture: An Introduction by Robert Holden
• Landscape Architecture, Fifth Edition: A Manual of Environmental Planning and Design by Barry Starke

Article by Erin Tharp

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