introduction
Exisiting formal public spaces and gardens are popular but highly controlled environments that don’t allow for spontaneous informal human interaction. We want to challenge this as part of our over all master plan to increase social interaction, outdoor activity and liveability. In a collaboration between the library, Buddhist temple and art gallery we propose a cultural centre based within a contemporary garden space.
The location of the new garden is proposed down towards the lake shore of Taihu Lake. This is away from the higher density commercial area and in amongst low rise retail and residential. This location gives the garden the benefit of being located on the lake edge, providing beautiful scenery, whilst also being at the quieter side of the city to give the users a tranquil setting in a bustling city.
context
The surrounding city landscape is predominately flat, however it is uncommon for Chinese gardens to be completely flat. From background research it was decided to include the incorporation of man made landscaping and contours. This will provide the opportunity for users to explore the garden at different levels and will create opportunities of concealment and surprise – critical in traditional gardens.
In traditional Chinese classical gardens it is customary to design different zones within the garden, to create different atmospheres and to evoke different emotions. The exploration of different zones included looking at overlapping zones with softer transitions and smaller more intense zones. It was decided to pursue the overlapping zones because it would make the garden less defined and provide an easier flow around the spaces of the created garden.
zoning
Inspiration:
The Mosque and Museum of Religious Harmony BIG Architects New cultural complex comprising of a mosque, an Islamic centre and a museum of religious harmony. This new cultural complex will not only serve the Muslim community but also the surrounding city. It seeks to educate the general public about religion, not only Islam but all religions.
http://flash.big.dk/projects/tir/
buildings
Architecture is an integral part of classical Chinese gardens. As proposed there will be a minimum of three buildings comprising of a library, a Buddhist temple and an art gallery. We explored the relationship between the buildings and agreed upon a layout that allowed for a strong visual and physical relationship between them. We have also considered the introduction of a museum at the opposite end of the garden – to encourage use at the other end of the park and provide all the amenities a cultural centre requires.
John Pawson: Sackler Crossing Bridge
strategy