Chongqing 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑 is located on the north side of Chongqing Central Park. The entire project site is separated and surrounded by Zhongyuan Mountain, and is arranged in a centripetal shape around Gezigou Reservoir. Adjacent to lakes, surrounded by mountains, with the unique ups and downs of Chongqing's topography, it is like a natural "urban peach blossom garden" in the city.

We have good expectations for the presentation of the demonstration area: living by water and lush. In the post-epidemic era, urban people's yearning for natural healing and the demand for urban quality residential landscape can be echoed. On top of this, together with the architects and interior designers, we brought the thinking about the essence of life into the design——in the place where we live around the lake, there is such an opening that can stop life and rhythm, and many stories can happens here.

The demonstration area has an area of 13,000 square meters, which is divided into park introduction and residential life. We hope to use the continuous natural scenery to surround the future life. However, the previous water conservancy projects in the early stage caused short-term scars to this primitive valley, so we need to restore the land, regenerate green, and reshape the space to restore the surrounding resources.

The park part is 1,500 meters long and 40 meters wide. It is in the shape of a long and narrow strip. It will be a public green corridor between the two groups of the future residential area, leading to the center of the lake along the 5-meter height difference. We designed a new terrain to continue the mountain, combining the rich experience of arriving, exploring, staying, and overlooking, and the height difference is also unknowingly melted into it. On top of this, we invite the "elves" of nature to go home, where they grow freely, the seasons change, and all things regenerate, forming a Mysterious valley park in the city.

Groups of Chinese fir forests become the gateway of the park and also the north entrance of the demonstration area linking Chunxuan Avenue. Thousands of Chongqing local stones are used to build several landscape walls at the entrance by building blocks. The balance between thick and light, visible and transparent, has a wonderful sense of space. Under the cedar forest, there is a floating glass building between the turns of the stone wall as a public post, where pedestrians waiting for the car or sheltering from the rain can take a break. The original wood and stone are matched with a small amount of artificial and exquisite materials to stabilize a sense of security in the changing nature of the seasons.

Parking is an important part of the experience. In this area, we transplanted a few big yellow kudzu trees belonging to the imprint of Chongqing to activate the site, and the parking lot is scattered under the big trees. We set up a "mountain gate", and we can reach it through the parking lot. Two exquisite metal landscape walls creates a small opening, as if there is light shining through. Chongqing's forests are dense and lush, and we hope to provide some hints of safety in them. The mountain gate serves as a small station along the road. Before the mountain gate is a flat fir forest, and then the space will extend downwards to explore the valley.

Between the valleys, flowing water falls layer by layer from the soft vegetation, tall birch forests, and undulating terrain, becoming the main theme of this peaceful air. Chongqing is mountainous and rainy, and this area also collects and filters rainwater. Finally, it flows into the valley bottom lake. The forest roads pass through the water and interweave in the forest, flowing freely with the terrain and air; moss and miscellaneous trees quietly climb up every inch of soil; The vitality of the flying pendant flower overflows the original boundary to occupy more habitats.

Walking by the water, faintly passing through the woods, there are two pure white huts hidden in the stream. This is a park resting place we created, and it is also a guide for future life around the lake. Sitting in the house, the time flows slowly, watching the shadows change. The shape of the hut opens the lower window, deliberately making people focus on the small beauty of the greenery on the ground. The hut is not only to smell the stream, but also to listen to the stories of every visitor on the shore of the valley and lake.

The forest is the preface and guidance, and the water yard suddenly becomes clear after passing through the dense forest is the clubhouse for future life. Under the original terrain conditions, the architect adopts the earth-covered building method to present a stretched architectural form to meet the various indoor public space needs of future residents. The horizontally stretched clubhouse is supported by the waterscape lotus pond, and the building skin, the nearby forest and the distant mountains are reflected in the waves of the water.  The scale and perception of the landscape here will be magnified along with the building, using a wide angle to feel the mirror of the sky of the lake and the continuous greenery of the distant mountains. Passing through the water courtyard hidden in the mysterious valley, a poetic and picturesque modern life will unfold accordingly.

The comfortable and poetic living environment emphasizes and blurs the boundary between park and residence. The exquisite and warm natural relaxation can emphasize the value of lakeside living. Half of the city is full of smoke and water, and half of the city is full of people. Those who live here can grasp the rhythm of life, so naturally they don't have to go to the far place, the present is the far away place. It is the good time of future life in 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑.

The simple texture of stone and wet wood is an idea that the design team wants to convey: they are all taken from the mountains, common natural materials are often close to people, and they can also have exquisite emotions after simple selection and polishing.

"Lush, pure and undisputed, peaceful and quiet" is the natural state we want to explore in the Migu Forest, which presents the beauty of a stable, seasonally changing landscape in a low-maintenance way, and belongs to the climate conditions of Chongqing, especially in Chongqing. In the selection of ground cover, more attention is paid to the creation of "environment". Through the rich varieties of cypress, flying cape, casuarina, rosemary, spruce, yew, calamus and other varieties, it echoes the multiple greens in the forest and presents the most vital state.

Mi Fu once mentioned the banner "Urban Forest" to break the predicament that mountain dwellings and cities cannot have both, and Chongqing is the state of human settlements where mountains and cities are integrated. The shallow water of the clear stream flows, and the leisurely walk along the mountains is misty and rainy. The secret valley is particularly good on cloudy and rainy days. It has a hazy and moist feeling that belongs to the mountains and forests of Chongqing, and it seems to be the texture left by the breeze.

No need to go far, nature can bring us warmth and surprises. The scenery that can be seen everywhere; the objects picked up at hand; the delicacy and temperature within reach, this is a natural healing field, and it is an oriental wisdom to explore the beauty of nature.

Project Location:  Yubei District, Chongqing City
Project Area: 1.3 ha
Design Year: 2022
Built Year: 2022
Client: Chongqing CR Land
Landscape Architecture consultant ：Change Studio
Architecture consultant: GAD
Interior consultant: W.DESIGN
Construction: Toqi
Garden construction: Shangye Gardening
Photography: E-ar X TARS & Holi