AZ Awards Best Landscape Award 2019: Landscape Design of Sanya Mangrove Ecological Park
Project overview
In the downtown area of Sanya, in just three years, the barren land in a concrete flood wall has been successfully restored to a lush mangrove park, where nature and people share the harmony of ocean tide and freshwater. Following the ecological process of natural geomantic omen, the project uses finger-linked mangrove mixed forest island to accelerate mangrove restoration and create a beautiful and ecological landscape.
▼A bird's eye view of the ecological park
Sites, challenges and objectives
The 30-year urban development has brought tremendous ecological damage to Sanya, a tropical tourist city in China located on Hainan Island. Almost all the water systems in the built area have been polluted and rubbish is floating everywhere. The concrete flood wall constructed by urban development has erased the mangrove and floodplain ecosystem, and blocked the connection between sea water and rainwater in upstream cities, resulting in serious urban waterlogging. At the same time, the increase of population, especially the exotic residents and seasonal tourists, all hope to enjoy the continuous Park belt along the river, has not yet been realized. In 2015, the municipal government decided to upgrade the city, looking for landscape architects to design this demonstration project: Sanya Mangrove Ecological Park.
▼Analysis of the original site
The site covers an area of 10 hectares and is located on the East Bank of Sanya River in the center of Sanya City. It is found that the ecological condition of the site at the intersection of inland and sea water is very fragile. As is the case in Sanya, the water here is also polluted by urban runoff. High concrete walls surround the 10 hectares of land, filled with rubbish from construction projects that have been suspended by the government. A main road passes by. The steep 9 meters between the road and the water make it impossible for citizens to get close to the water.
▼Concrete structures that can withstand tropical storms
▼General layout
The goal of the design is to restore the mangrove ecosystem and to demonstrate other urban restoration and ecological restoration projects. The design has solved four major site problems: 1. Wind: strong tropical monsoon may affect the restoration of mangroves and destroy seedlings every year; 2. Water: floods gathered in the upper reaches of the monsoon period may disperse newly formed mangrove communities; 3. Pollution: polluted urban runoff may damage sensitive mangrove seedlings and cause mangrove trees. Reduction of species diversity in forest communities; Fourth, travelability: How to combine public recreation with natural restoration needs to be considered.
▼Restored Mangrove Park
Design Strategy: Formal Subordination Process
In order to solve the above site problems and achieve the project objectives, the following design strategies are proposed: Earthwork Balance: Reuse the urban construction waste dumped by the site and remove the concrete waste left by the damp-proof dyke, create various water level differences by filling and digging, to meet the growth and habitat needs of all kinds of animals and plants, mainly mangroves, and form a rich revetment ecosystem.
▼Rich revetment ecosystem
Fingerlike Interlocking Form: Transform the topography into finger interlocking form and introduce the tide into the park. At the same time, it avoids the impact of flood from upstream monsoon period and runoff pollution from mountainous areas and cities. This pattern maximizes the boundary effect (the shoreline boundary is increased by six times, from 700 meters to 4000 meters), the depth change of 0-1.5 meters increases the biodiversity, and the ebb and flow tides guarantee the dynamic aquatic environment system which is very important to aquatic organisms.
▼Fingerlike terrain brings the tide to the park
Platform and ecological corridor: A series of platforms and ecological corridor systems are established by utilizing the 9-meter height difference between road and water surface to intercept and purify the surface runoff from the city and to arrange the high and low public spaces.
▼Platform and Ecological Corridor
Landscape boxes and slow lanes adapted to terrain: The design of footpath network follows the change of terrain, and the aerial walkway floating above the natural scenery brings people into the forest to overlook the mangrove forest. Five landscape boxes are carefully arranged in the quiet and beautiful position of the forest, and at the same time become the necessary shade and rain shelter space in the changeable climate. Modular concrete boxes can withstand strong tropical storms, and different angles of placement create the best view for Birdwatching enthusiasts.
▼Landscape boxes are laid out in the quiet beauty of the forest.
▼Modular concrete boxes can withstand strong tropical storms
▼Shade and rain-shelter space
结论
The case was a great success. Only three years after completion, all set goals were achieved. Mangroves grow well on the finger island, where fish and birds live, attracting a large number of tourists of all ages every year. Sanya Mangrove Eco-Park has become a daily activity place for citizens. Eco-restoration not only demonstrates its benefits to nature, but also brings tremendous improvement to public services. As one of the landscaping boxes says, the green mountains are Jinshan and Yinshan.
▼Daily Places for Citizens'Activities
▼Enjoy the quiet evening scenery in the landscape box
