Connect historic scroll to urban design today

Qingming Water City Urban Design

Location: Kaifeng, China
Client: Zhengzhou Vanke Xicheng Co. Ltd

Program: 658,000 Ha

Kaifeng, in Henan Province, is one of eight ancient capitals in China. Qingming Water City is located at the South-East corner of Kaifeng city. It’s positioning and design is inspired by the Qingming Shanghe Map, a historical masterpiece representing everyday life in old time China.

The main question was how to recreate a lively neighborhood with a high quality living environment on an ancient map? Studying the painting, we see attractions, markets and public spaces. We also see a subtle transition between city parks inside and nature outside the wall. We read a spatial structure and logic of different character areas in the ancient part of the city. The natural river in the site is a big opportunity.

Our design considers all these features and covers: a life along the river, living within the wall and living with nature.

Stages:
2018 competition design

Team:
MLA+: Kexin Huang, Martin Probst, Brechtje Spreeuwers, Wenchi Yang, Yi Yu, Milena Zaklanovic