LOCATION
Shenzhen, China
DATE
2019
SIZE
280 ha
TYPE
Invited International Urban Design Competition
STATUS
Assignment completed
CLIENT
Yantian District Construction Engineering Affairs Bureau
PROJECT TEAM
Martin Arfalk, Patrick Verhoeven,
Cyril Pavlu, Danny Bridson, Shan Jiang, Francesca Savio, Konstantin Miroshnychenko, Katerina Vondrova
Dameisha Seaside Park
A landscape that protects and invites
Dameisha Seaside Park is one of Shenzhen’s major tourist attractions, and is located on the coast of its eastern ecological and recreational zone. The park has millions of visitors a year, until recently when Typhoon Mangkhut caused extensive damage, closing the park since September 2018. Mandworks was invited by the Yantian District to participate in an international design competition for the redesign of the park.
To combat the sites resiliency challenges we propose a defensive topography that can withstand, resist and recover from, powerful and unpredictable weather events. The landscape engulfs and protects the transportation and beach facilities, and creates protected pockets that are shielded from the force of the wind and storm surges. In between storms, the tropical landscape provides a lush, shaded canopy that lowers the temperature of the public spaces and protects visitors from the hot sun.
After reinforcing the beach against external threats, we believe it is vital to prioritise, exhibit and emphasise the beach’s inherent beauty and character. Our landscape design replaces an exposed and under-utilised green space with a thriving, layered ecosystem that offers visitors a refuge from the beach, strengthening the waterfront with many shops, locker rooms, public bathrooms, and showers that enhance the experience of spending time in the park.
In between the sandy beach and dense canopies we have connected the beach, city, and transportation nodes with a robust social infrastructure that makes the park easy to understand, offers beautiful and accessible facilities and moves people seamlessly in and out of the park.
1. Resilient Landscape
3. Enhance Natural Beauty
2. Robust Social Infrastructure
4. Spectacular Landmarks
Four Targeted Strategies
In order to tackle the challenges and make the most of the Dameisha Seaside Park we propose four strategies that together form a Resilient, Robust, Beautiful and Spectacular landscape experience!
Maximising shorelines
By reclaiming Zhouzi Island and introducing the Dameisha Wave pier we are able to greatly increase the amount of usable shoreline on the beach. The new edges provide a number of new opportunities to interact with the water!
Welcome to the beach
The exit of the new metro station leads you into the grand entrance square, where water elements and shady palms bring the atmosphere of the beach to the public space. The entrance structures form clear way finding landmarks, guiding visitors to the beach.
The Park today
Today, the park relies on its magnificent views and beach to attract visitors, but overall considerable space that could be for people is given to parking facilities and roads. And as 2018 demonstrated, the facilities are vulnerable to storm damage.
Transforming Surfaces
Highly connected and full with potential, the Seaside Park becomes a canvas. We make use of the displaced soil from the large infrastructural projects to craft a luscious, rolling topography that drapes over the new beach facilities.
Transforming Infrastructure
With the construction of the metro station and the burial of Yanmei Road, exciting new opportunities emerge. The beach can now be connected directly to Shenzhen and Dameisha. But what should we do with all that soil?
Dameisha Seaside Park
The result is a playful, verdant landscape that both protects and invites!
A landscape that Invites
The rolling topography of our landscape complements, and enhances the natural beauty of the beach. A thick, luscious layer of soil and vegetation results in a comfortable tropical microclimate retreat for beach goers.
A landscape that protects
Wiped out by Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, the beach, park and facilities must be designed to withstand the threats of a growing climate threat. Our landscape is designed to shield and protect itself from the strong winds of the bay, allowing for shorter bounce back times after storm events.
Integrated Facilities
The bathroom, shopping, and locker facilities are dispersed in clusters throughout the park. The clusters disperse the crowds, and provide naturally cooled and well-protected public amenities.
Designing for heat
Given the demanding heat of Shenzhen’s warm months, the topography and planting strategy of the park provides visitors with a passively cooled environment. Openings in the landscape invite the sea breeze to refresh inside the park.
Dameisha Wave Pier
The spectacular wave pier provides Dameisha Seaside Park with an unforgettable landmark. The pier dips in and out of the water as you walk its length, providing a playful way to experience the seaside.
