01 Design Concept
Grounded in architect Anne Lacaton’s belief that architecture should remain open to life and expand the freedom of its users, the project responds to the community character of a TOD-based urban mixed-use development. Inspired by an open and unrestricted way of living, the design integrates the urban frontage and establishes a multi-layered public realm.
Through a careful interplay of elevated and sunken ground levels, the landscape creates visually open, atmospherically diverse spaces. Conceived as “A Theatre of Time in Motion,” the project unfolds as a narrative landscape where urban scenery and everyday life are deeply intertwined.
02 Core Landscape Design
A linear spatial sequence connects four key landscape nodes, guiding the experience from open social interaction to quiet retreat.
Woodland Plaza
Along the street frontage, the design abstracts the flowing lines of rail transit into the landscape language. Layered feature walls reinterpret the texture and rhythm of tracks, creating a gradual transition from semi-enclosed space to an open plaza.
The plaza incorporates shaded outdoor seating beneath the trees, interactive bubbling fountains, and stepped seating. Accommodating approximately 500 people, it supports community gathering, children’s play, and casual viewing. In visual dialogue with the architecture, the space evokes the impression of floating above the tree canopy.
Water Stage
A sunken passage links the Woodland Plaza to the next sequence. Here, a waterfall courtyard forms a dynamic waterscape, while a curtain of water softens the surrounding noise and filters the atmosphere. This transition shifts the mood from public vibrancy to intimate calm, setting the stage for the Time Theatre beyond.
Time Theatre
The central theatre is shaped as a sunken landscape, contrasting with the elevated Woodland Plaza around it. Stepping-stone seating, sliced sculptural artworks, and a reflective pool come together to create an immersive, theatrical public space.
The sculptural forms echo the architectural massing, while the elevated viewing terraces offer panoramic views across the entire landscape, reinforcing the spatial drama of the theatre.
Tranquil Courtyard
Defined by a restrained, Zen-inspired aesthetic, the Tranquil Courtyard introduces a more private homecoming experience. A long, narrow pathway establishes a quiet sense of arrival, accompanied by art sculptures that resonate with those in the Time Theatre.
The sequence completes a natural transition from public landscape to everyday living, ultimately returning to the essence of residential life.
03 Design Summary
Designed for the functional demands of a TOD urban mixed-use development, the project uses an open landscape framework to organize a complete experiential route. Changes in ground level, carefully staged spatial sequences, waterscapes, and integrated art installations together shape a rich and cohesive public realm.
By bringing together the urban logic of transit infrastructure, natural ecology, and artistic expression, the design creates a diverse and multifunctional landscape environment. It meets the practical needs of residents for socializing, resting, and interaction, while elevating the overall spatial quality through a refined artistic approach. The project offers a valuable built reference for landscape design within TOD-oriented urban complexes in the Yangtze River Delta region.
