This is a concept design study for a site in Nanjing, a city about 300km west of Shanghai. The city is one of the  historic capital cities of China and is located on the Yangtze River.

China is currently expanding its high-speed rail network, and Nanjing is a key hub on this system. This site is  located near the new Nanjing South high-speed rail station and is part of the Nanjing South Terminal City  development master plan. The project is called “City Park” and is a mix of residential, retail, office, hotel and  entertainment uses. The site area is 76,270.5 m2, and the proposed built areas total 305,082 m2 for an overall  FAR of 4.0.
The first scheme is inspired by the Rambla in Barcelona and features a boulevard which cuts through the  podium fabric to create a lively commercial experience which connects the two most prominent access points  on the site. Connecting the southern edge of the site to the north, the tree-lined pedestrian boulevard has  water features, canopies, and cafe kiosks. The public “Rambla” is flanked by semi-private residential courtyards  with larger water features.

The second scheme, the Riviera, is inspired by the waterways which have shaped Nanjing’s history: the Yangtze  River and its tributary, the Qinhuai River, which runs through the old city. The canal approximates the  form of the character Ning, which is the symbol of the city. Three courtyard spaces are created along the path  of the canal, two of which are residential park spaces and one which is a public square flanked by retail and  restaurants.
The Kasian team worked very closely with the Vancouver clients to ensure that each option would work from retail, residential and phasing perspectives.