Xinghu Sky Street, Longhu, Suzhou

Waterfront theaters+Central theaters——Our Design strategy focuses on the approaches to solve the site problems. We expect to create a series of public gathering places belonging to the city: the landscape space is a series of stages for our city, and the public life of the Xinghu community is the repertoire staged during it. NEW URBAN THEATERISM NEW URBAN THEATERISM ：Based on our observation and research, the spatial tenet of commercial landscape coincides with theater typologies; in which, both seeks to celebrate formal and informal gathering with multiplicity of sight lines to promote active participation and interaction. A successful commercial landscape while satisfying both community and operational needs requires not only a central plaza, but a series of flexible and multi-functional inter-relational spaces that encourages people to socialize, play, observe and rest. In our early conception, we strategized to implement theatre typologies into the public realm of our project that will ultimately elevate human experience and commercial success. Longfor Suzhou Paradise Walk is a community-based commercial complex located on the bank of Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park. The plot is crossed by an existing river. We expect to create 6 differentiated prototype spaces within the site - a series of public gathering places belonging to the city: the landscape space is a series of stages for our city, and the public life of the Xinghu community is the repertoire staged within it. DESIGN STRATEGY Challenge-subdivided Retail Blocks—strategy-focal Embracement Civic Axis Central theaters—The malls are divided by a waterway and situated on both sides of the the river. The west block is larger and has a central plaza looking towards the waterway, serving as the hub of the retail center; the east block is long and narrow, serving as a children activity center. The landscape design aims to connect and reinforce the relationship of the subdivided retail by conceptualizing the three-dimensional relationship along the waterfront spaces. Firstly, we designated a "Round Stage Theatre" (Reflection of the moon) at the ground level open space to encourage participatory activities. Secondly, we integrated treehouse walkways along the exterior building facade and sky bridges to create "V-Shaped Theatre" and "U-Shaped Theatre" observation spaces, strengthening inward focus and linking multi-directional sight lines to embrace the central activity plaza. Challenge-Homogeneous Waterfront—strategy Activation of Inter-relational Spaces Waterfront Axis Waterfront theaters—The existing waterway and greenspace that subdivides the retail malls is a challenging condition for a commercial project. We hope the design fully respects and responds to the natural conditions, therefore creating a natural corridor with insertions of multiple pocketed participatory spaces along the waterfront. We have designed a series of pocket prototype spaces that include "Stepping Theatre", "Linear Theatre" and "Mounded Theatre" to activate waterfront public realm and attract intimate interactions with the natural environment. These pocket spaces not only connect the commercial environment with water, but also enrich the recreational experience along the waterfront interface. DESIGN PROTOTYPE NEW URBAN THEATERISM - PROTOTYPE OF SIX THEATRES Theatre typologies are fundementally about relationship between audience and performers. The essence of theatre design is to encourage participation and interaction in relationship with one another. We intend to strategize spatial abstractions through theatre prototype exploration to find corresponding solutions for the design of our site. THEATERISM PROTOTYPE PLACEMENT SIX THEATRES ROUND STAGE THEATR V-SHAPED THEATRE U-SHAPED THEATRE STEPPING THEATRE LINEAR THEATRE MOUNDED THEATRE LIFE THEATRES Through our theaterism prototype place-making, the project has successfully elevated the standard of urban public realm in commercial landscape practices. It is not only a center for commercial and community gathering, but a highly activated public realm that encourages civic life and recreations.