ROLE: Landscape Designer
In 2005 the City of Shanghai chose the winning design, created by Balmori Associates and Beyer Blinder Belle, for a new public space centered around culture and recreation in the heart of this urban metropolis. The design takes a site that was spatially disconnected and weaves the existing features, including houses, a historic Spaceframe, and a subway station, into one congruous park. A new theater anchors the circulation at the park’s center with an adjacent performance space under the Spaceframe and an entry plaza for gathering. A great lawn in the north and extensive playground in the south use topography to create a sense of enclosure and choreograph surprise at each new turn. New cafes and bars along the eastern edge are integrated into an existing lively neighborhood street, and additionally gain space overlooking the park from their back doors. Finally, a sweeping water feature crosses the entire site, integrating water works into the entire fabric of the park.



