Located approximately eight hours west of Shanghai, the city of Lu’an is relatively small by Chinese standards.  With roughly 400,000 residents, it sits along the banks of the Pi River in the Anhui Province.   Recently, the Pi River waterfront was the focal point for an extensive redevelopment effort outlined by the City’s 2030 Masterplan.  This masterplan anticipates exponential growth, transforming Lu’an from a city of 400,000 residents to one with over 4 million people.  The 2030 Masterplan goal is to create an attractive urban waterfront that accommodates this growth model, addresses environmental challenges, and protects the rich cultural heritage of existing neighborhoods and sites.

Following the City’s release of the 2030 Masterplan, the City organized the Lu’an City Pi River Urban Design Plan as an international design competition.  Shortlisted as one of four competitors, HAA crafted an overall masterplan for all future development within the city of Lu’an.  Integral to the overall design partii, the river becomes the city’s spirit.  Humans and the environment engage the river’s edge, drawing strength from its history.  This same strength is pulled outwards along projected greenways and a network of highly functional landscape systems.  These greenway connections become the most important city infrastructure, stitching together all future developments along a varied, multi-functional recreational system.

In total, the complex master plan for a 12.3 square mile area (32 square kilometers) can be distilled into 4 major parts.

1. West Pi District: Organized along a “center green”, this district is the new cultural center, offering a vivid, lively, and modern urban experience.  The land uses are highly active – a dynamic mix of cultural attractions, department stores, shops, offices, hotels, restaurants, and residences.
2. Moon Island: Moon Island is the green heart of the city, where the primary planning initiatives – economic development, cultural heritage, environmental stewardship and recreation – join together to create a place in balance.  The island becomes a living laboratory, telling the river’s story and the rich natural resource history of the region.
3. Gao City: Gao City’s rich history is celebrated by protecting and restoring the central and oldest part of the district.  Preserving the district for future generations provides Lu’an City with an attractive, alternate lifestyle, reminiscent of Lu’an’s past.
4. Northern neighborhoods: The initial master planning effort did little to ‘create place’ beyond the main city center.  The Northern Neighborhoods are now a collection of smaller scaled neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character.  From small canal villages to transit oriented developments, these neighborhoods compliment the structure of the city’s heart to the south.

While HAA did not win this competition, several additional Chinese projects have resulted from this initial endeavor.  In future posts, HAA will expand upon these multi-cultural design efforts.