The promising Sci-Tech future of Liyang
Liyang is where the Suzhou, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces meet. Chapman Taylor’s Shanghai studio has created a design concept that will strengthen its reputation for science and innovation, whilst creating vibrant shared spaces for the people who live and visit there.
Liyang is where the Suzhou, Zhejiang and Anhui Provinces meet. Chapman Taylor’s Shanghai studio has created a design concept that will strengthen its reputation for science and innovation, whilst creating vibrant shared spaces for the people who live and visit there.
The project is located to the north of Lion Mountain and south of the Laishui River. The water of the Laishui River surrounds the city and there is a Green Chain linking two Green Islets. A high-speed railway hub integrates the station, city, people, scenery and culture. The designs will fully respect the ancient culture of the area whilst creating a promising future.
Some of the key elements of the design concept include the Science and Innovation Longqiu Area, Integrated Hub, Shared Fun Axis and Shanshui Wisdom Island.
Creating an urban environment where mountains and water blend together.
Recreating the characteristics of Liyang, the city is shaped in accordance with the landscape form. Prioritising preservation and restoration of the mountain and the water system, a design framework is established to integrate the natural resources of the mountain and water. The city is shaped into several island-like groups by various corridors.
Urban functions and transportation planning.
The development structure has two cores and one axis. The two cores will serve as the main engine of the development of the whole area, with the comprehensive hub core led by the Liyangxi Station on the west and the Longqiu Lake as a financial and technical innovation core on the east. At the same time, the ecological sharing axis is a corridor that connects the two cores and is equipped with shared services such as business, conference, science and technology innovation, sports, education, and ecological health facilities.
Architectural design.
A wide range of public services will be placed in each cluster to create a 15-minute living circle to serve the local residents. Landmark buildings within the clusters will also create a staggered skyline for the base.
The Longqiu Lake Core Area is themed on the blending of mountains and water, with the building designed like the mountain and the water surrounding the city. As an important gateway to the city, the internal axis is connected to the overall 10-mile Green Islets.
The island clusters are mostly residential, with the northern cluster boundary having a water theme with buildings set back from and stretching along the water system. The southern group boundary has small-scale New Chinese style architecture inspired by the mountains, creating a lively and dynamic living atmosphere.
Landscape design.
The Laishui River shapes the landscape of the new city. Our design preserves the current water system and, using the principle of respecting the current topography and reducing the amount of dredging and filling, creates a five-level flood resistance system to build a flood-adapted resilient city. Eight functional cores are linked along the central axis to form carbon sink microclimate regulating zero-carbon garden areas. The three-dimensional greenway system is built along the hills and waterfront, with a high-level walkway providing easy access to both sides of the river and low water trails providing fun experiences. The 9-kilometre Smart Shared Ring connects Liyangxi Station with the various Wisdom Islands and forms a slow traffic system with multi-level trails.
Liyangxi Station Hub.
The high-speed railway station will become a vibrant centre of the city, along with the TOD core area.
The urban core seamlessly integrates the high-speed railway and intercity stations, commercial and peripheral areas. It also adopts a down-and-out passenger flow pattern to facilitate travel and arrival at the station, making the station a truly convenient means of transport for the city.
The Sky Bridge will provide pedestrian and bicycle access and driverless ferries, while the Green Park will become a continuous urban green space with a variety of opportunities for commerce, art and public services.
Fun Shared Xinchang Axis.
The Fun Shared Xinchang Axis links the Longqiu sub-centre and Liyangxi Station. It is also the Ecological Flood Storage Belt that maintains the safety of the surrounding people's properties. Here, the colourful vegetation and landscape elements are inspired by classical Chinese gardens, using ancient gardening techniques to integrate the meandering mountains and tranquil rivers with the urban landscape. This axis is the oxygen-rich ten-mile green pavilion linking Wisdom Islands and the science and innovation chain of Xinchang.
Sci-Tech Longqiu Lake Pole.
Longqiu Lake City Centre is an important gateway of the base facing the city of Liyang, adjacent to the Xianren Mountain range and the waters of Longqiu Lake. Here, there is a visual experience of a cascading and interlocking landscape with buildings, mountains and water.
Recreating the characteristics of Liyang, the city is shaped in accordance with the landscape form. Prioritising preservation and restoration of the mountain and the water system, a design framework is established to integrate the natural resources of the mountain and water. The city is shaped into several island-like groups by various corridors.
Urban functions and transportation planning.
2. How can the TOD hub integrate with the city?
The railway station is clearly the anchor to the west side and will serve as a landmark. It must also fully connect and be part of the city, both in terms of its form and its functions, so, it becomes a natural part of the comprehensive city structure.
3. How can the people of Liyang maximise their enjoyment of this dynamic new city, using excellent public spaces?
By creating a series of island clusters that have multiple functions and proposing multiple events and functions for the greenways.
4. How can Shanshui culture be introduced into the structure of the new city?
In abstract terms, the city is created and defined by the mountains and the blue-green parkways which wave through the city. These create the city structures like an expression of an exquisite Shanshui painting, showing the character of the Chinese landscape. So, the project is integrated and bedded into the local culture.
The development structure has two cores and one axis. The two cores will serve as the main engine of the development of the whole area, with the comprehensive hub core led by the Liyangxi Station on the west and the Longqiu Lake as a financial and technical innovation core on the east. At the same time, the ecological sharing axis is a corridor that connects the two cores and is equipped with shared services such as business, conference, science and technology innovation, sports, education, and ecological health facilities.
Architectural design.
On the basis of preserving and restoring the hills and the main water system, an overall structure is formed with a main east-west axis and several north-south corridors. This ”one corridor and eight belts” structure shaped the city into multiple island-like clusters, creating a unique urban environment for Liyang, integrated with hills and water.
Urban Function and Transport Planning
A functional structure was created, of “two cores and one axis”. Two cores serve as the main engine to drive the development of the whole area, with the comprehensive hub core led by West Liyang Station on the west and the Longqiu Lake financial and innovative core on the east.
The ecological sharing axis connecting the two cores is equipped with shared services such as business and conference, science and technology, sports and education, and ecological health facilities, forming an integrated urban corridor linking the two cores and radiating surrounding areas.
Based on the upper planned road network with four horizontal and four vertical arterial road, we increase the number of branch roads within each cluster in order to build an efficient road network structure.
For public transportation, a medium-capacity bus corridor from Liyang city area will connect the city centre, Longqiu Lake and West Liyang Station. A public transport system with two rings and multiple radiations within the site would achieve full coverage of bus services.
Architectural Design
The main design concept is inspired by Liyang Shanshui culture, developing a rich range of architectural typologies and styles.
A wide variety of public services will be placed in each cluster to create a 15-minute living circle to serve the local residents.
Landmark buildings within the clusters will also create a staggered and balanced urban skyline.
The Laishui River shapes the landscape of the new city. Our design preserves the current water system and, using the principle of respecting the current topography and reducing the amount of dredging and filling, creates a five-level flood resistance system to build a flood-adapted resilient city. Eight functional cores are linked along the central axis to form carbon sink microclimate regulating zero-carbon garden areas. The three-dimensional greenway system is built along the hills and waterfront, with a high-level walkway providing easy access to both sides of the river and low water trails providing fun experiences. The 9-kilometre Smart Shared Ring connects Liyangxi Station with the various Wisdom Islands and forms a slow traffic system with multi-level trails.
Liyangxi Station Hub.
A vertical greenway system is built along the hill and water, with elevated greenways providing easy access between adjacent clusters and lower greenways creating space close to the water.
A 9km Innovative Loop connects West Liyang Station and all other islands, as a supplement to the multi-level greenway system.
The high-speed railway station will become a vibrant centre of the city, along with the TOD core area.
The urban core seamlessly integrates the high-speed railway and intercity stations, commercial and peripheral areas. It also adopts a down-and-out passenger flow pattern to facilitate travel and arrival at the station, making the station a truly convenient means of transport for the city.
The Sky Bridge will provide pedestrian and bicycle access and driverless ferries, while the Green Park will become a continuous urban green space with a variety of opportunities for commerce, art and public services.
Fun Shared Xinchang Axis.
The Fun Shared Xinchang Axis links the Longqiu sub-centre and Liyangxi Station. It is also the Ecological Flood Storage Belt that maintains the safety of the surrounding people's properties. Here, the colourful vegetation and landscape elements are inspired by classical Chinese gardens, using ancient gardening techniques to integrate the meandering mountains and tranquil rivers with the urban landscape. This axis is the oxygen-rich ten-mile green pavilion linking Wisdom Islands and the science and innovation chain of Xinchang.
Sci-Tech Longqiu Lake Pole.
Longqiu Lake City Centre is an important gateway of the base facing the city of Liyang, adjacent to the Xianren Mountain range and the waters of Longqiu Lake. Here, there is a visual experience of a cascading and interlocking landscape with buildings, mountains and water.
The Fun Shared Xinchang Axis links the Longqiu sub-centre and Liyangxi Station. It is also the Ecological Flood Storage Belt that maintains the safety of the surrounding people's properties. Here, the colourful vegetation and landscape elements are inspired by classical Chinese gardens, using ancient gardening techniques to integrate the meandering mountains and tranquil rivers with the urban landscape. This axis is the oxygen-rich ten-mile green pavilion linking Wisdom Islands and the science and innovation chain of Xinchang.
Sci-Tech Longqiu Lake Pole.
Longqiu Lake City Centre is an important gateway of the base facing the city of Liyang, adjacent to the Xianren Mountain range and the waters of Longqiu Lake. Here, there is a visual experience of a cascading and interlocking landscape with buildings, mountains and water.
