Chapman Taylor's masterplan for a new town district at Xiong’an Rongdong, China

Chapman Taylor’s Shanghai studio has created an urban design concept for an integrated and harmonious new town district.

Rongdong district is located in the middle of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei circle and currently plays a role as the transfer hub between Beijing and neighbouring cities. Its vicinity to major cities means that there is great potential for future development and integration.

Rondong district will be a mixed-use, green smart city development, made up of residential, workplace, leisure, retail, healthcare and transportation uses that will become an enjoyable place in which to work and live, with extensive open spaces for the public to enjoy. Our design will fully integrate with the natural environment and several heritage sites will be carefully incorporated into the masterplan.

A variety of green spaces are proposed that serve useful functions within the landscape strategy. Site levels are employed to assist with water management and drainage, focusing on the central park, and streets are lined with soft landscaping to act as 'rain gardens'. The forest park provides shelter and site definition on the perimeter of the site. Spine parks link the urban quarters with the central park and help to create a close connection between the city and nature. A garden city boulevard connects the urban areas, which are full of public and private courtyard gardens in a variety of styles, along with roof gardens and allotments used to grow food for a sustainable future. Finally, city squares become urban meeting spaces for sports, culture and social and commercial uses.

An ecological and smart ‘slow transport’ system is created, incorporating pedestrian-friendly self-sustaining urban quarters which include many community activities.

The dense transportation system in the surroundings of Rongdong district represents one of its main opportunities. There are three international and two national airports and two railway stations in the proximity of the site, with additional bus routes serving the local infrastructure. There are four highways and one railway line which connect Rongdong district with several key cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei circle.