Zero Carbon Park: A Fresh Destination for Shenzhen’s City Walk

Zero Carbon Park A fresh destination for Shenzhen’s City Walk At this very locale One falls in love with the eternal summer of the City City Walk has emerged as one of the most cherished ways to travel today, with unrestricted freedom to observe the past and present of a city, embarking on an urban odyssey. Shenzhen, known as the "City of a Thousand Parks," encapsulates the character and essence of this metropolis in its parks. Each creation designed by AUBE Conception adds to the formation of poetic urban spaces: Shenzhen Talent Park, the stage where environment and time intertwine to form the city's vibrant life theaters; Shenzhen Shenwan Street Park, the energy field of rain and wind; and Diaolou Time Park, the first Diaolou-themed park... Currently, the first zero-carbon science theme park and Zero-carbon Exhibition Hall in Shenzhen, crafted by AUBE Conception, have been completed and open to the public. The park has largely achieved zero-carbon emissions at the moment, wholeheartedly supporting the cause of "Low-Carbon Pingdi" in every aspect. Panoramic Aerial View Zero Carbon Park: the first low-carbon science theme park in Shenzhen which has largely achieved carbon neutrality Shenzhen International Low Carbon City is located in Pingdi Residential District, the northeastern gateway of Shenzhen in Longgang District. As one of the first national low-carbon city pilot projects, the project also serves as a vital platform and demonstrative showcase characterized by green and low-carbon development among the 18 key development zones in Shenzhen. Shenzhen Zero Carbon Park lies within the core area of Shenzhen International Low Carbon City, occupying an area of approximately 185,000 square meters. Its functional orientation encompasses ecological exploration, physical well-being, carbon sink awareness campaign, and interactive experiences within an urban park setting. Within the overall design of the park, six major low-carbon design strategies have been implemented by AUBE team, resulting in an annual reduction of approximately 3,700 tons of carbon emissions. By minimizing carbon emissions during the exploitation, transportation, and processing of new materials and extending the lifecycle of recycled ones, around 103 tons of carbon emissions are conserved during the construction process, and the effective employment of photovoltaic components decreases the equivalence of more than 65 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. In this way, the project strives to support the green and low-carbon development of Longgang Pingdi Residential District in all aspects. The Entrance Plaza One natural ecological base, multiple green low-carbon strategies. Situated amidst a rich abundance of mountain resources and a splendid natural establishment, the focal point of this project lies in maximizing the advantages of the site's resources. How can one introduce human activities while preserving the existing biological habitats? Embracing the foundation of natural ecology, the design team pursues the minimization of interference with the natural hills, building in harmonious accordance with the terrain and achieving earthwork equilibrium. Simultaneously, the team proposes six major strategies: low-impact development (LID), low-carbon plant arrangement, eco-friendly construction material application, low-carbon energy utilization, sponge city design, and low-carbon science-themed operation. By seamlessly integrating the human race, flora, fauna, and the natural environment, the project aims to craft a "zero-carbon" theme park that harmoniously blends with its pristine surroundings. The Entrance Waterway The park adheres to six major low-carbon design strategies, rooted in ecological principles, and achieves low-impact development. During the development process, nearly 180,000 square meters of existing trees and ground cover are preserved, while newly introduced species prioritize high-carbon sequestration plants and native flora. Employing a multi-layered planting pattern, the carbon sequestration efficiency per unit area of vegetation is increased. Taking advantage of the site's elevation differences and catchments, various sponge city facilities are strategically placed to retain and purify water, resulting in a 82. 54% control rate of annual runoff and a 75. 19% reduction in non-point source pollution, establishing a high-standard, interconnected, and nature-based sponge ecosystem. Focused Aerial View The essence of water, wind, earth, and stone forges an ethereal "Traces-Free Forest". Within the park, there lie educational zones including the Barefoot Park, the Waterfront Creek Section and the Ecological Plaza Exhibition Zone. Connected by the main park roads, the zero-carbon science-themed path weaves through four main segments: the Valley of Water and Wind, the Hill of Solar Energy, the Hill of Earth and Stone, and the Hill of Forests, which provide captivating activity nodes and redefine the zero-carbon theme experience within an urban park setting. The Valley of Water and Wind – Entrance Waterway The Valley of Water and Wind, centered around the themes of water and wind, serves as the focal point for concentrated construction within the site. With fewer trees and a level terrain in this area, the valley maximizes the utilization of flat ground while incorporating existing waterways, earth cliffs, and vegetation resources to create a space where visitors can listen to the wind rustling, reach out to the water flowing, indulge in the microclimates, and immerse themselves in the embrace of nature. The Barefoot Park Located at the boundary of the park's valley, the Barefoot Park fully utilizes the existing large lychee forest and the waterways beneath to create a natural and adventurous activity area for children. Partially altered waterways are transformed into a playful waterfront space for the young, while game facilities made of sand, logs, and other natural materials are ingeniously integrated with low-carbon science education, making learning enjoyable. A circular barefoot experience path, composed of various materials including tree bark, pine cones, volcanic rocks, pebbles, and mud with lower carbon emission factors, encourages children and their parents to take off shoes and experience a new way of connecting with nature through direct contact with the raw ecological paving. The Lychee Forest Plaza The Hill of Earth and Stone retains the majority of its original vegetation while the ecological and sustainable design concept of a "Traces-Free Forest" is practiced with profundity. The construction of Natural Wilderness Trails within the park follows a site-specific approach, employing different types of drainage, elevation handling, energy dissipation, and slope protection techniques to address the various routes of varying difficulty. Recycling the stones and fallen trees from the forest, the construction process is carried out manually with minimal infrastructure and low-impact techniques. Taking full consideration of the needs and experiences of trail users, this approach ensures that the Natural Wilderness Trails not only fulfill environmental aesthetics but also serve as a means of ecological preservation. Hand-made trail The Natural Wilderness Trail Within this area, there is a circular-shaped Viewing Deck, featuring a pergola covered with approximately 60 square meters of solar photovoltaic panels which generates about 9,070 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, leading to a reduction in carbon emissions of approximately 5,300 kilograms. The wooden platform is constructed using native ecological materials and is equipped with recreational facilities and informative boards, offering visitors a pleasant vantage point and enriched low-carbon experiences while they relax and enjoy the breathtaking views. The Hill of Earth and Stone – The Sky Ring The Hill of Earth and Stone – The Sky Ring The Hill of Forests is dedicated to crafting a distinctive forest area for both scientific research and scenic enjoyment while respecting the existing state of the vegetation on site. The design of the plants fully retains the advantages of the current forest vegetation, enhances the eucalyptus grove in forest forms and also introduces additional high-carbon sequestration plants, such as the large belly kapok. Meanwhile, the exposed slopes of the site are treated with vegetation coverage. The Hill of Forests - Close View of the Viewing Deck The Viewing Deck's facade utilizes ecologically-sourced bamboo from the surrounding mountains. The overall design exudes a sense of lightness and naturalness, aiming to minimize artificial traces and allow it to blend amidst the lush forest of the mountainous landscape. The Hill of Forests - Close View of the Viewing Deck The Hill of Solar Energy is home to the regional power substation. By transforming the abandoned high-voltage tower into an artefact with artistic wheat lights, natural strip stones and the park's logo, along with the suspended ramps and stairs built on the existing gray lattice retaining walls, the design team highlights the secondary entrance's distinctive character while maintaining the overall ecological and natural image. The Secondary Entrance of the Park The Zero Carbon Exhibition Hall: a seamless integration into its natural environment The Zero Carbon Exhibition Hall and the Park’s Management Service Center are respectively located at the center and entrance of the park. The Zero Carbon Exhibition Hall, nestled within the valley, seamlessly blends into its natural surroundings covering an area of approximately 2,600 square meters with a floor area of around 2,800 square meters. Taking on an earth-covered form, the architecture adopts a centralized layout to minimize its footprint, cleverly concealing its volume and avoiding extensive lychee forests on the site, thus reducing human interference with the natural environment to the most. The spatial form draws inspiration from the passive design principles of traditional Lingnan architecture, where the roof of the pavilion resembles a conical hat, gently lifting and spiraling away from the main structure, creating three distinct levels with open spaces in between that offers extensive shading and fosters natural airflow. The application of a daylight-filled atrium further softens the light conditions, enhances air circulation, and mitigates the heat island effect. Aerial View of the Zero Carbon Exhibition Hall Street View of the Management Service Center