Zhoushan Harbour Development
Concept
Zhoushan, China
Locus Project – Zhoushan East Coast Investment Property Co. Ltd
The archipelago of Zhoushan in China is the site of an experimental urban rehabilitation project, led by the Chinese architect Wang Shu. Situated at the entrance of the Yangtze river delta and known as China’s fishing capital, Zhoushan has a population of around one million. The aim of this project is to transform the industrial harbour area, Putuo, into a touristic and cultural district.
The site is on an island approximately 300m from the mainland. An assortment of buildings, docks and warehouses make up a dense fabric, built over several decades. The surrounding landscape is very diverse, with steep hills lining the south and rivers running through the north. The mountains, the sea, the city and hundreds of boats make for a striking image of the site within its landscape.
The architectural proposal creates a dialogue between the contemporary function of the harbour (that will remain operational) and the area’s heritage. The programme consists of an exhibition space, information centre, artists’ studios and three teahouses surrounded by a garden. These are raised on a platform that extends boldly out of the hillside towards the harbour, marking a transition space between nature and the built environment. By spanning over the existing road, the project reclaims space within its high-density context. Above, two tall structures offer sweeping views over the spectacular surroundings, shaded on the south and east façades by bamboo pole screens. Visitors are free to circulate below these buildings, around the repurposed factory buildings and through the garden.
The archipelago of Zhoushan in China is the site of an experimental urban rehabilitation project, led by the Chinese architect Wang Shu. Situated at the entrance of the Yangtze river delta and known as China’s fishing capital, Zhoushan has a population of around one million. The aim of this project is to transform the industrial harbour area, Putuo, into a touristic and cultural district.
The site is on an island approximately 300m from the mainland. An assortment of buildings, docks and warehouses make up a dense fabric, built over several decades. The surrounding landscape is very diverse, with steep hills lining the south and rivers running through the north. The mountains, the sea, the city and hundreds of boats make for a striking image of the site within its landscape.
The architectural proposal creates a dialogue between the contemporary function of the harbour (that will remain operational) and the area’s heritage. The programme consists of an exhibition space, information centre, artists’ studios and three teahouses surrounded by a garden. These are raised on a platform that extends boldly out of the hillside towards the harbour, marking a transition space between nature and the built environment. By spanning over the existing road, the project reclaims space within its high-density context. Above, two tall structures offer sweeping views over the spectacular surroundings, shaded on the south and east façades by bamboo pole screens. Visitors are free to circulate below these buildings, around the repurposed factory buildings and through the garden.
