client: KCID
area: 34 ha
completion: 2012
Streets comprise about 30% of our urban fabric and people spend much time travelling them every day. Urban sidewalks are where we play, meet, shop, and watch the world go by. We find urban life in street trees and planting, culture in the spontaneous street corner performances or pavement art. iPD believes that streets reflect the values and culture of its community and our approach is to establish an organizational spatial system to promote and nurture those.
Working with our long standing client, the goal for Qianjin road is to provide a pedestrian friendly experience in a pleasant environment that is enriched with art, shopping, and play, fitting the new paradigm that streets are an integral part of the social fabric of the community. Qianjin Road will provide the framework for community life, facilitating access and sustainable transportation, providing valuable experience and amenities within a safe environment.
In achieving that, the project will contribute to creating a desirable (and valuable) community to live in, educate visitors and tourists on local culture offering a unique visual experience and a thriving retail district for entrepreneurs.
Planning and Design for the streetscape achieved 4 goals:
Urban Pedestrian Boulevard. On a city scale, Qianjin road links to the heart of Kunshan and the Eastern District and at a district level various commercial and civic centers, a sport stadium, several parks, and residential communities. Essentially it is the backbone of the city. The design set out to achieve a boulevard appropriate to scale of the city, district and function of movement between nodes. Treatments, planting and features reinforced this concept.
Creation of a strong identity. Through the use of strong graphic abstracted from the local high tech industry and key visual elements (water features and lighting) the street has been given a unique and memorable character that gives identity and focus to the Western District
Provision of Safe environment. Through the landscape project, intersections were improved with medians, traffic controls, and markings to facilitate safe pedestrian crossing to encourage people to walk the neighborhood, visit parks and amenities while use the facilities provided on both sides of the street. Similarly cycle lanes were separated visually and functionally from trafficked areas (including intersections) and integrated with the pedestrian environment without sacrificing the commuter requirements.
Active and Dynamic Streetscape. Street life is promoted by providing structures for community and retail facilities along the entire length. Facilities cater for community services such as sheltered seating areas, restrooms, information centers, auto banking, and communications to retail facilities including markets, bookstands, teahouses, food stalls, shopping facilities and displays. Facilities will be transparent to create visual interest at day and night and self sufficient in lighting energy (using solar panels) and contribute to the unique identity of the district.