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Architects: TOPOS Landscape Architects
- Area: 10000 m²
- Year: 2018
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Photographs:Qi Xi
PROJECT STATEMENT
Lakeside Garden establishes a harmonious interface between people, nature, and history. The garden is inspired by a classic fable of The Peach Blossom Valley. The program and design strategy have transformed the 1-hectare slope site into a dramatic spatial sequence.
PROJECT NARRATIVE
Qiandao Lake, also known as Thousand Island Lake, is a freshwater lake as a result of the construction of Xin'an River Hydroelectric Dam in 1959 thatflooded hundreds of villages and historical sites. It is a beautiful lake noted for its crystal clear water, ever-changing sky and verdurous mountains.
Lakeside Garden is located on a 1-hectare site between a lakeside driveway and the future planned community of 10 high-rise residential towers, with 9 meters of elevation change. The landscape design began with overall site planning, through sculpting the terrain, created a dramatic spatial sequence meandering in a forest hills setting, unfolding a picturesque lakeside journey.
Tide Plaza
Visitors start to experience the garden from Tide Plaza, agathering space with waving form;the wind kinetic screen ‘Shining Lake’ creates a welcoming prelude. It also serves as a backdrop for informal performance.
Breeze Garden
Flowering tree grove, ornamental grasses, native plants with seasonal colors, beige aggregate concrete, dark gray slate, water cascading, rock fountains…a meandering terraced garden with juxtaposition of natural rustic and refined texture.
Silence and Light
A silent space of enclosure, surrounded by historical exhibits of “Underwater Ancient Villages” of Qiandao Lake. A skylight shines down, creating a feeling of infinity in a limited space. Stepping up the minimalist spiral staircase, the experience gradually unfolds to a broad open lake view, with spacious sky and mountains in distance.
As described in the Chinese classic fable of The Peach Blossom Valley, “At first it was extremely narrow, allowing for only one person to squeeze through. After walking another twenty or thirty paces, he suddenly exited onto an open clearing”.
Sky Clouds Reflection Pool
An infinity reflection pool blends with the lake and mountains beyond. Twinkle “Starry Sky” lights at pool bottom evokes a poetic image of “underwater ancient villages”, recalling a unique and sentimental history of Qiandao Lake.
Crystal Bridge
A curve glass footbridge, crossing through the sound of shuffling bamboo leaves, creates a tranquil moment before arriving the Lakeside Gallery
Shining Lake, Verdurous Mountains, and Spacious Sky
Across the Crystal Bridge, standing in the Lakeside Gallery lobby, looking through the panoramic window, a breath-taking view of shining lake, verdurous mountains, and spacious sky.
Located on a 1-hectare site between a lakeside driveway and the future planned community of 11 high-rise residential towers, Lakeside Garden serves as a spatial, visual, and cultural connection between the future planned community and the picturesque Qiandao Lake.
The landscape design began with site planning, through sculpting the terrain, creating a dramatic spatial sequence in a forest hills setting. Situated at northeast corner of the site is the Lakeside Gallery, “within sight, but beyond reach”, an enticing discovery experience.
Wind kinetic screen ‘Shining Lake’ creates a welcoming prelude, it also serves as a backdrop for informal performances. Granite stone paving pattern consists of Chinese Sesame Black, Sesame Gray, and Sesame White, reflecting a subtle image of the shining lake.
Water level of the reflection pool is designed to fluctuate 5cm, a metaphor of Qiandao Lake’s seasonal fluctuation. An ‘island’ is set at 3cm below high water level, a stage for solo performance that appears to be floating on water.
When the water level is low, the island exposes. Twinkle “Starry Sky” lights at pool bottom evokes a poetic image of “underwater ancient villages”, a unique and sentimental history of Qiandao Lake.
