Rapid urbanisation often faces the consequences of ecosystem damage and cultural destruction, but we only call for restoration of nature after damage is done.  The Waterfront Park of Chongqing Cultural Tourism Town is a rare oasis that redefines the previously damaged natural flow of river, and sees residents’ lives intertwine with brand new yet pristine nature. It’s only now we experience space, time, and humanity across the restored and original nature, prompting us to consider city vs nature, and art vs life.

Rapid urbanization often faces the consequences of ecosystem damage and cultural destruction, but we only call for restoration of nature after damage is done. The Waterfront Park of Chongqing Cultural Tourism Town is a rare oasis that redefines the previously damaged natural flow of river, and sees residents’ lives intertwine with brand new yet pristine nature. It’s only now we experience space, time, and humanity across the restored and original nature, prompting us to consider city vs nature, and art vs life.

The ideal relation between human and nature should be interdependence and coexistence. Looking down from above we accept the trench has become an unfortunate but unavoidable part of the site. In the face of the scar on nature, we decided to have nature’s sound heard.“ As with the saying that borrowing makes clever and delicacy makes appropriate, we do not embark on further destruction of the base, but follow the direction and depth of the trench, remodeling a valley flowing by. Human activities are covered by this piece of forest.

End of the valley is parallel to the waterfall, where one can’t see the waterfall but hear all of it. Our expedition of finding nature leads us to respond to nature here, where we call Reappearing of Nature. Martin Heidegger had his theory on the relations between subject and object. Our artistic installation abstract water from nature, presenting its aestheticism that’s usually hard to see when submerged in nature. It conveys the pursuing and keen care of natural landscape of idealists.

The valley ends towards a rock patch, though the sound of nature that we look for points to a cavern hidden in the forest. The connection point serves as a gathering point and arts centre for surrounding residents, as well as a place to think and reminisce. A cavern is the most modest and mildest entry point, concealed in greenery. Its mystique and ambiguity amplifies curiosity and imagination. Exit of the cavern has been ingeniously situated at the best viewing point of the waterfall. After experiencing the sound of the waterfall, the art of water, the narrow walkway of the cavern, we are presented with the spectacular waterfall, as if a journey in dreamland. A light passage blends with the cliff, forming part of the landscape.

The valley converges into a vertical line at the turning, serving as the connection between the Park and the Poetic Habitat residential area. Climbing the stairs brings us to the cluster of simplistic modern architecture concealed behind the woods. Radiance of the metals and glasses on the buildings is reflected by the lake in front. This is actually the behind of the valley – after rounds and turns we trace to the origin. To witness mountain and waterfalls at the end of the cavern, is perhaps the idealistic life we are looking to return to.

Mankind has been trying to define its relation with nature. We have explored our emotional resonance with nature during our journal of design. The experience of Valley Forest seeks to restore and find, from abstract to concrete, modern life within nature. The new culture no longer focuses on creation in material world, but guides us to sense and find betterment in real nature.

Project Location: Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
Project Area: 3 hectares
Design Year: 2018
Completion Year: 2019
Client: Chongqing Sunac
Landscape Design: Change Studio
Landscape Construction: Tongqi Landscape
Architectural Design: ArchiUnion Architects
Structural Design: Changsha Anji Engineering Consultants
Wayfinding Design: Shiyuan Signage
Sculpture Design: Poetic Dream Studio
Soft Furnishing Design: Yanci Artworks
Photography: Wang Ning
Company Website: www.chan9e.cn