At Haikou Bay, a new vision of waterfront living is reshaping the coastline.

Situated between an aging urban edge and the open horizon of the sea, the project draws from the rhythms of tides and the textures of coastal greenery. Nature-based healing and an international artistic sensibility are interwoven into an expansive seaside community, forming a relaxed coastal living landscape where city and ocean exist in gentle symbiosis.

To realize the vision of multi-directional, boundary-free ocean views, two core design strategies were introduced: the Invisible Boundary and the Vertical Megastructure.

Through the deep integration of landscape, architecture, and interior design, these strategies redefine the spatial dimension of coastal living. The result is a powerful and immersive spatial experience—one that expands the relationship between daily life and the sea, and transforms the act of viewing the ocean into a continuous, multi-layered encounter.

Conventional perimeter walls dissolve here. In their place emerges a horizontally extended, wave-like elevated garden—suggestive of boundaries yet free from obstruction. It defines without enclosing, guiding without restricting.

Spatial form shifts from rigid containment to open diffusion. Through subtle planar transitions and vertical maneuvers, the sea reappears with every turn—always present, never distant.

A 20-meter-high vertical column system rises from the underground atrium to the sky lounge above, extending toward both ocean and horizon. More than a structural gesture, it forms the spiritual core of the community.

Here, sea and sky merge into the daily visual field. As residents move through the space, the ocean remains a constant companion—framed, elevated, and ever-present.

“Sea spray touches the skin, and suddenly, freedom feels effortless.”
Three circular seating islands echo the fleeting forms of ocean foam. Warm materials and refined textures soften the space, while ocean-inspired plantings unfold in layered compositions, creating a lush, tropical micro-landscape.
Light filters through foliage, shadows drift across surfaces, and the scent of the sea mingles with the softness of greenery. This is not merely a courtyard—it is a living vessel, a permanent holiday stage dedicated to everyday life.

The vastness of the sea and the serenity of island life are drawn inward, shaping a relaxed coastal atmosphere within the city.

Layered “islands” are interconnected by green canyons, each revealing a gradual sequence of arrival. Palm trees filter ocean breezes, dense vegetation flourishes, and stone formations retain the warmth of sunlight. Each step is a return to harbor—each moment a re-entry into nature.

As sunset stains the ocean in shades of gold and crimson, twilight settles into the courtyard. Reflections shimmer, water ripples softly, and time seems to slow.

With deliberate restraint and carefully placed moments of openness, the space breathes—growing alongside time, evolving with life itself.

A place to keep swimming, until the sea turns blue again

Project Information

Project Name: China Overseas · Nanhai No.3 Residence
Location: Haikou, Hainan, China
Site Area: 8.6 hectares
Design Period: 2024
Completion: 2025
Client: China Overseas Property (Haizhu Branch)
Client Team: Di Mengjie, Xu Zhaoyuan, Li Hui
Landscape Design: Change Studio (Chengji Landscape)
Construction Documentation: Daohe Design
Architecture: PT Architecture (Shanghai)
Interior Design: CCD
Landscape Construction: Shenzhen Hanpin
Photography: Wang Ning