HAA has received a Michigan ASLA Honor Award for the Lu’an City Pi River Waterfront Urban Design Plan.  Congratulations and thank you for the hard work: Christina Hansen, Shannon Mohr, Angela Hicks, Yukun Xu, Brandon List, Brett Davis, Burke Jenkins, Kent Anderson, Dan Kinkead, Jeff Mason, John Savitski, Lori Singleton, Sam Lovall, Yang Yi, Thang Tao, Nick Salowich, Carl Bolofer, and Russell Baltimore. This project demonstrated the unique collaboration between the Site and Architecture studios at HAA.

For more information on the project, please click into previous blog post here.

The World Expo 2010 is currently underway in the city of Shanghai, China. Staged along both banks of the Huangpu River, more than 190 countries and 50 international organizations from around the globe have come together to share pavilions and exhibitions. The theme of the exposition is Better City – Better Life, and is an opportunity for countries from around the world to showcase their artistic, cultural, and architectural talents.  With an estimated 70 million visitors, the event is said to be the most expensive and also largest World’s fair site – 5.28 square km – in history.

The tradition of World Expositions stretches back to the Great Exhibition at Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace in London. At that time, the Exposition provided a unique opportunity for the convening of cultures which otherwise would remain largely separate. Today, even in an era when globalization drives this cultural fusion, the Expo continues to hold an important position both as a cultural venue, political platform, and an opportunity for Shanghai to demonstrate its international significance both to its citizens and the world.

Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for the City of Shanghai to develop its infrastructure system, which will benefit the city long after the exposition closes at the end of October. After a flurry of construction over the past months, the city now has a new airport terminal, new metro lines, roads, parks, and public areas which will greatly enhance the city’s future.

Working in China over the last few months, HAA employees were able to tour many of the iconic National Pavilions and experience firsthand this historic event.

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.

chinaHAA. Two months ago, two of our employees trekked 24 travel hours across the globe to Hefei, China. Upon arrival, HAA commenced an innovative cross-cultural, cross-professional exchange. For the next two weeks, these employees will be working directly for the Hefei University of Technology within their architecture/design department. During this time, they will be posting illustrative photos that speak to Design, China, and all of the discovered Details.

chinaHAA. Two months ago, two of our employees trekked 24 travel hours across the globe to Hefei, China. Upon arrival, HAA commenced an innovative cross-cultural, cross-professional exchange. For the next few weeks, these employees will be working directly for the Hefei University of Technology within their architecture/design department. During this time, they will be posting illustrative photos that speak to Design, China, and all of the discovered Details.

These photos share a singular commonality:  possession of the streets.  Residents, businesses, and transportation all possessively claim the shared infrastructure for personal gain.

chinaHAA. A month ago, two of our employees trekked 24 travel hours across the globe to Hefei, China. Upon arrival, HAA commenced an innovative cross-cultural, cross-professional exchange. For the next three months, these employees will be working directly for the Hefei University of Technology within their architecture/design department. During this time, they will be posting illustrative photos that speak to Design, China, and all of the discovered Details.

chinaHAA. A few weeks ago, two of our employees trekked 24 travel hours across the globe to Hefei, China.   Upon arrival, HAA commenced an innovative cross-cultural, cross-professional exchange.  For the next four months, these employees will be working directly for the Hefei University of Technology within their architecture/design department.  During this time, they will be posting illustrative photos that speak to Design, China, and all of the discovered Details.