Martha Schwartz and partners
architectural landscape
case study literature
1. FENGMING MOUNTAIN PARK, Beijing, China
Location: Chongqing, China
Client: Vanke
Associate Landscape Architect: La Cime
Contractor: Third Chongqing Construction Engineering
Size: 16 Hectares
Status: Completed 2013
Design Team: Martha Schwartz, Nigel Koch, Jasmine Ong, Christabel Lee, Aigars Lauzis, Ignacio Lopez-Buson, Ceylan Belek-Ombregt, Markus Jatsch and Gilles de Wever
2. SOWWAH SQUARE , Abu Dhabi UAE
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY The inspiration for the square was derived from the nature and culture inherent to the Arabian Peninsula: dunes, traditional irrigation systems (falaj), oases, bedouin textiles and the popular use of formal clipped hedges in the United Arab Emirates, drawing connections with the French baroque château gardens”
This merging of ideas is represented in a contemporary design created a sustainable, cool and protected micro climate for users and a dynamic kaleidoscope of planting and patterned paving on the ground
advance landscape
architecture
design philosophy
green design
3. • Location: Chongqing, China
• Client: Vanke
• Associate LandscapeArchitect: La Cime
• Contractor: ThirdChongqing Construction Engineering
• Size: 16 Hectares
• Status: Completed 2013
• Design Team: Martha Schwartz, Nigel Koch, Jasmine Ong,
Christabel Lee, Aigars Lauzis, Ignacio Lopez-Buson,
Ceylan Belek-Ombregt, Markus Jatsch and Gilles de
Wever
4. Martha Schwartz Partners designed the Fengming Mountain Park to
lead visitors from a car park at the top of the site to a sales center
for a property development beingconstructed in the area.
"The brief was to design a demonstration park and urban public
realm to express a unique identity in order to market the future
development," explained the architects.
The vision was to create a strong connection between the setting of the site and the surrounding backdrop of the mountainous
peaks, valleys of the Sichuan Basin; the agrarian patterning of rice paddy terraces; the Chang Jiang river; and the mysterious
white/grey misty sky of Chongqing. These elements provide the inspiration for the mountain pavilions, zigzag patterns,
orchestrated terrain and the use of vivid colours (to contrast againstthe sky).
5. • Fengming Mountain Park is set on a 16,000m2 site, located in the growing ShapingbaDistrictof Chongqing.
• The site extends east to Fengxi Road, which isthe main entrance and highestpoint of the site.
• Opened in Spring 2013, visitors are taken on a dynamic journey via a series of iconic mountain-shaped follies, plazas,
greenery and water features leading to Vanke Golden City Development sales centre
• The brief was to design a demonstration park and urban public realm to
express a unique identityin order to market the future development.
• The park is required to draw attention to the development sales Centre
from the upper main road and entrance from Fengxi Road; and be
adaptable for retrofit and integrationfor the adjacentfuture development
6. On arrival from Fengxi Road, dancing red and orange sculptures linethe entrance to draw people into the arrival plaza car park.
The first of the mountain pavilions stands at the entrance, to mark the start of series of visual mountain peaks, descending down
the slope.
Each pavilion is strategically positioned along the zigzag path, leading pedestrians down the ‘mountain’, towards the sales centre
area.
The pavilionsprovide shade during the day and at night, are litto create a spectacularglowing lantern effect
Extreme topography creates both a functional challenge to facilitate pedestrian and vehicle movement from the upper car
park to the salescenter at the lowest point; and a uniqueopportunity to provide a dynamic landscape – the 'mountain'.
7. A pathway descends through plazas, planted areas
and water features that reference the surrounding
landscape of mountains, rice paddies and rivers.
The red and orange metal structures mark out the
route and act as pavilions that provide shade during
the day and a focal point when illuminatedat night.
8. Their angular shapes are intended to resemble
mountain peaks rising above the lower
features along the route and their bright hue
was chosen to stand out against the greenery
and sky.
A pattern of perforated triangles casts complex
shadows on the ground when the sun shines
and allows the internal surfaces to emit a
warm glow when illuminatedfrom within
9. A monolithic concrete wall with a
rough textured surface shields the
car park from the rest of the site,
with further walls lining a zigzagging
path that drops down to the lower
level of the park
Water flows through the site from
the entrance to the sales centre
along a meandering channel that
feeds small pools, some of which
feature jets to enhance the aural
properties of these features
Bright orange walls framing some of
the planting provide a consistent
element throughout the park, which
corresponds with markings painted
across the surface of the car park
and the tall pavilions.
10. The zigzag path ensures the extreme level change is accessible for all, the path also becomes a geological pattern language, as if
one is a walking on trails winding up a steep mountain.
At each turn, a platform provides a place to sitand enjoy the view or take respite from the hill.
The zigzag path is lined with balustrade walls constructed from large pieces of deeply textured dark concrete to create a rocky
silhouettelooking up the hill.
The valleys or crevicesthat are created by the wallsbecome sources for streams which run through the project.
11. The presence of water is an important part of Fengming Mountain Park
It is expressed as a 'flow' of water from the arrival plaza to the sales centre, using a variety of different water effects, such as:
channels,pools and jets to assistwith cooling, provide sounds and atmosphere to what is a captivatinglandscape.
This entire park is a sequence, a triumphant journey, from the patterned markings in the arrival plaza; down the zig zag path; into
meandering water features; through the plazas and then on to the final destinationat the SalesCentre.
Fengming Mountain has become a has become a vibrant, joyful and well loved part of the Chongqing cityscape.