昆山森林公园西入口

Forest Park West Entry / PLAT Studio

Breaking Barriers to Connect Neighborhood Landscape Infrastructure

Forest Park West Entry / PLAT Studio

Introduction

Project Images

More Works

Architect

PLAT Studio

Category

公园绿地

Project Year

2014

Site Area

278100 m²

Location

苏州 / 中国

编辑推荐

Text description provided by the architects

昆山森林公园作为一个大尺度的公共开放空间，是昆山城西的主要绿色资源之一。位处于一个日新月异高速发展的创新产业核心区域，163公顷的昆山森林公园成为了一个城中的绿核。

西入口的景观策略旨在将森林公园提升为为该区域社区景观基础设施，运用系统性的规划和设计手法，解决森林公园西侧的可达性，生态功能和活动设置等各方面的挑战。西入口的设计突破了公园西侧的边界，成为一个周边社区与城市的重要连接节点，呈现一个完全可达的，为社区所用的城市公园愿景。

西入口也将成为一个标志性的门户节点，映衬出静态动态休闲活动设施和不同流线的交织。多样化的种植设计也将极大改善场地的生物多样性，并为整个区域提供了有效的雨水径流处理系统。今天，森林公园已经提升成为了一个充满活力的地区公园，一个强而有力的景观基础设施，一个支持昆山城西繁荣发展的生态绿洲。

Forest Park is a large open space and a major resource of green resource for Kunshan, a developing suburb of Shanghai. 163 hectares of forested wetland form a green island within the rapidly developing district of Kunshan West.

Transforming the park into landscape infrastructure that serves the residential communities of the district required strategic planning that addressed the accessibility, ecological, and programmatic challenges of the site. The West Entry broke through the barrier of the western edge of the park to act as a neighborhood link for Kunshan West, fulfilling the vision of a fully connected Forest Park.

This West Entry acts as a gateway into a network of boardwalks and bike trails that weave through a variety of both active and passive recreational amenities. A diversified planting palette improves the biodiversity of the site as well as serves the overall district with an effective stormwater runoff treatment system. Today, Forest Park has transformed into a dynamic district park and a fundamental piece of landscape infrastructure that will support the thriving future of Kunshan West.

背景

做为上海苏州周边飞速成长的新兴城市，昆山在城市发展的过程中意识到城市建设的扩张需要有意识地与绿色景观基础设施相结合。昆山城西位于昆山市市中心西北，是一个繁荣成长的科技新区，并渐渐地成功蜕变为一个创新产业核心，正吸引着无数高新科技工作者和居住者来到昆山。

昆山城西与生俱来的良好生态环境成为了该区域景观基础设施发展的支撑，星罗棋布的水系以及广泛的自然湿地都构成了开发开放公共空间的基础。而昆山森林公园位于昆山城西的核心区域，是庙泾河水系和城西中央景观轴的重要链接枢纽，提供了大量的自然生态和城市休闲活动，成为了昆山城西最为重要的区域性公园。

CONTEXT

A growing suburb of Shanghai and Suzhou, Kunshan finds itself in a formative period of expansion that requires intentional inclusion of green infrastructure design alongside its developmental growth. As a result of its proximity to major urban centers, Kunshan West is a flourishing tech region that is growing into a new innovative core district of its own, attracting an influx of industry workers and residents alike.

This development core is supported by a series of large water and open space resources, anchored by the expansive wetlands of Forest Park. The district park is located within the Miaojing River watershed, a historical and preserved drinking water aqueduct resource between Kuilei Lake and Kunshan’s Old Town.

▼昆山森林公园西入口鸟瞰图 West entry aerial view

现况

昆山森林公园此前的设计挑战主要在于较少的入口连接以及周边大量的私人开发界面造成的不可及性，尤其是公园的西侧边界没有任何入口，更是在周边社区和公园之间形成了一道隔离的阻碍。然而与此同时，昆山森林公园的良好自然生态也为设计奠定了优越的基础，辽阔的现存水系及湿地植栽为景观设计提供了整合的空间，以提升成为区域性径流过滤处理系统。景观设计的目标在于策略性的解决此前的设计挑战并整合现有資源，提升森林公园使之成为一个休闲与生态价值并存的地区性公园。

EXISTING CONDITION

Previously underutilized as a recreational open space for residents of the district, Forest Park’s site challenges included an inaccessible overgrown and densely vegetated interior within an interface dominated by private developments with very few neighborhood entry points. The western edge of the site acts as a barrier between the neighboring communities and the amenities of Forest Park. The large existing network of waterways on site however presented an opportunity to utilize and improve upon the water filtration services the park was already providing the surrounding district. Strategic design was required to transform Forest Park into a district park that is equally valued as a recreational resource as it is an ecological one for Kunshan West.

▼改造前场地 Conditions before construction

▼施工前，施工进行中，施工后空拍对比图 Before, During and After Construction

设计目标

景观设计的总体目标在于为周边逐渐成长的社区需求创造一个完全可企及的区域性公园，与此同时建立完善的社区可达性，创造具有地域特征的标示性，以及为公园周边的城市环境提供功能性的生态服务。

景观设计策略着眼于可达性，生态价值以及休闲设施。可达性通过创建西侧入口以及服务行人及自行车流线的西侧环道的来实现。而生态价值通过水道的连接以及将公园径流处理基础设施与周边城市环境互相融入来贯彻。与此同时，设计也提供一系列的静态动态相结合的娱乐休闲设施，让森林公园成为一个受欢迎的目的地。

DESIGN INTENT

The park’s design aims to realize a fully connected Forest Park with improved accessibility for surrounding neighborhoods, a community culture significant to the identity of the district and a functional ecological service for the park’s urban context.

The overall goal is to connect and improve this underutilized landscape infrastructure resource for the growing residential neighborhoods of the district. Strategies to achieve this goals address accessibility, ecological value, and recreational amenities. Accessibility is achieved by creating a West Entry and establishing the West Loop for connected pedestrian and cycle circulation. Ecological value is improved by linking waterways with the rest of Forest Park and integrating the park’s water infrastructure into the surrounding urban context. A variety of both vibrant and passive recreational amenities are provided for adjacent communities, making Forest Park a regional destination as well.

▼景观总平图及设计策略 Site plan and design strategies

可达性

景观设计的架构着重通过在森林公园西侧的边界增加新的入口节点来解决可达性的问题，从而打破森林公园西侧的现有边界感，增加森林公园在西侧的可企及性。由此西入口将成为一个重要的门户节点，进入其中，首先印入眼帘的是开阔的水面与活动广场，在这里，配备有完善的社交和户外聚会设施，比如露天阶梯座椅，游客服务以及轻食餐厅等等，这些公共设施与西侧的水塘相结合，提供了一个开阔的自然画布，生机勃勃的湿地植栽，以及由层层叠叠树林形成的自然天际线取缔了城市化的界面。这里将公园的自然特色扩展到城市公共生活当中，创建一种健康融于自然的生活氛围。

从休闲广场出发，游客将进入森林公园内部的小径，内部的流线被西侧入口的流线所激活，引导游客探索更多不同形态从湿地到森林的自然栖息地。木栈道蜿蜒地穿过层层水生种植，而硬质的铺装则带领游客进入色彩缤纷的落叶树林去探险。这些新增的路线最终连接到傀儡湖自行车系统，形成一个活跃的，以社区为导向的大型水岸公园。

ACCESSIBILITY

The design framework addresses accessibility by providing a new entry point on the western border, breaking an existing barrier into Forest Park. The West Entry acts as a vital gateway node that leads visitors into a recreational plaza fitted with amenities for social and healthy outdoor gatherings. This active node welcomes visitors into the park and links them into the network of trails and boardwalks within the interior of Forest Park, extending the natural character of the park into the urban public realm. Here an amphitheater, visitor center and dining take advantage of grand views over the West Pond, invigorated by aquatic planting and screens of trees to minimize views of skyline development.

Internal pathways lead visitors to explore different peaceful and natural habitats ranging from wetlands to forests as they journey through Forest Park’s now accessible interior. Timber boardwalks meander through aquatic planting and beds of reeds while hard paved footways adventure into tracts of colorful deciduous trees. These routes stemming from the West Entry Plaza connect into the bike system of Kuilei Lake and work to form an active and community-oriented waterfront park.

▼不同层级的流线系统 Circulation with different hierarchy

▼抬高的湿地木栈道 Elevated wetland wood boardwalk

▼木栈道蜿蜒穿过湿地种植，过滤雨水，改善森林公园整体水质 Boardwalks meander through wetland planting that filter the water within Forest Park and improve the overall water quality of the district.

生态

森林公园的绿色基础设施设计策略旨在战略性地通过有效利用其庞大的湿地网络来改善整个区域的水质。在水泵系统和茂密的水生种植的帮助下，森林公园将过滤邻近城市界面的雨水径流，并将清洁过后的水进行循环利用。雨水花园，生态植草沟和自然湿地在提供观赏性的同时，也减缓了市政雨水系统的压力，创建一个健康的水文生态区域。

多样的动植物种类被引入设计之中培养生物多样性，供人们在自然中观察和学习。不仅如此，植栽设计更是强调呈现季节性变化，丰富的灌木和树林也将隔绝了外部城市界面。最后，各个层面的广泛植栽搭配，旨在让游客沉浸在自然和平的环境中，创造一个祥和的都市绿洲。

ECOLOGY

The green infrastructure strategy of Forest Park aims at improving the overall water quality of the whole district by effectively utilizing its vast network of filtrating wetlands. With the aid of both a water pump system and extensive aquatic reed planting, Forest Park filters storm-water runoff from neighboring urban development and recycles clean water downstream back into the southern edge of the district. Bioswales and ornamental wetlands support the park’s mechanical infrastructure to mitigate the pressure put on urban storm sewers, creating a healthy hydrological district.

The variety of flora and fauna species incorporated into the planting palette foster a strong level of biodiversity within the park for people to observe and learn about. This planting palette presents an array of seasonal color, evident in the rich layers of shrubs and trees that screen outside development. The wide range of planting on all levels envelop visitors' senses, immersing them in a natural and peaceful setting.

▼水处理系统示意图 Water treatment system diagram

丰富的生物多样性 Biodiversity

主池塘区域的植栽设计旨在遮蔽小区住宅楼房，增加邻里私密性，并利用水生植物增加栖地，强化生态机能。

The planting design of the main pond intentionally screens neighboring buildings and improves the ecological value of the pond with aquatic planting.

文化

为了将昆山城西的社区文化引入森林公园，西入口和休闲广场的设计创建了各式各样社区聚会，运动和餐饮等活动的设施和空间，这些设施极大的被周围的居民所利用，成为了一个极受欢迎的社区公共开放空间。我们观察到在夏季凉爽的傍晚，这里却充满了活力，附近的居民聚集在这里慢跑，练习太极拳，和邻里拉拉家常。在喧闹的白天，咖啡馆和游客中心为居民提供了休憩的机会，并且在这里探索风景如画的自然公园。

这种活动的策略从入口延伸到了公园内部的湿地莲池区域。这里的木栈道带领游客直接与大自然接触，悠闲地漫步在湿地种植区域，宁静地坐在其中的平台，都能沉浸于公园的自然美景，呈现一种静态的美感。

CULTURE

The West Entry and recreational plaza extends the identity of the district of Kunshan West into Forest Park by providing space for community gatherings and active amenities like exercise and dining. This area is energized at night as residents of Kunshan West gather here to jog, practice Tai Chi and meet for family social functions in the cool summer evening temperatures. During the day, a cafe and visitor’s center both provide valuable programs for residents to enjoy as they venture out to explore the scenic and natural park on their doorsteps.

This programmatic strategy extends the gateway identity of the West Entry through to the Lotus Walk of wetland boardwalks. This trail allows visitors to come in direct contact with nature on a more passive route to leisurely stroll through swathes of wetland planting and provides restful areas to sit together, engaged in the natural beauty of the park.

▼多季相的种植设计让公园有更多样的面向，在不同的季节，有著不同的丰富层次质感，秋色季相 Seasonal planting produces a park that is dynamic and inviting at all times of the year displaying rich and textural shrub layers and fall color on a variety of tree species.

影响

森林公园西入口设计的成功在昆山繁忙的都会生活中被充分体现出来，在这里，我们观察到在木栈道平台上钓鱼的人们，在池塘边享用下午茶点心的人们，在广场中拉家常锻炼身体的人们。通过充分高效的连接及可达性，完善的活动以及生态的功能，森林公园已成为昆山城西正需的一种景观基础设施，它极大满足了该地区目前正在经历的不断增长的人口和发展的需求，支持了昆山城西建设的繁荣未来。

IMPACT

The impact of the design of Forest Park’s West Entry is evident in the bustling activity observed day to day within its now open western border, where visitors are seen fishing on boardwalks, strolling through lush planting and having an afternoon snack by the West Pond. By becoming fully connected, Forest Park has become the landscape infrastructure that Kunshan West needs to serve the growing population and development the district is presently experiencing. The park now fulfills the needs of the community through efficient accessibility, abundant ecology and dynamic recreational amenities, supporting the flourishing future of Kunshan West.

▼不同时段有不同的游客使用入口过桥 Users visit the entrance to cross the bridge at different times.

▼西入口环路带领游客探索节点和郁郁葱葱的大自然，提供美丽的景色和户外休闲机会 The west entry loop leads visitors on an explorative journey through both active nodes and lush nature that offers both beautiful views and outdoor recreation opportunities in a variety of settings.

森林公园在凉爽的傍晚及夜间特别受到周边居民的喜爱，许多住户都来森林公园锻鍊、交谊、闲话家常。

Forest Park is also an active open space that valuably serves adjacent neighborhoods as a vibrant hub for exercise and family gatherings in cooler evening temperatures.