Jordan + Bateman Architects was asked to develop a masterplan for Altay Fuhai new city in Northern Xinjiang Province, which would establish two central streets; Administration and Commercial and provide the pivotal core to the new city.
The Administration and Commercial streets are integrated into the new masterplan by a series of vehicular roads, which run from east to west of the new city of Altay Fuhai. Both streets have a main spinal street, which terminate at and link to a new city park at the north of the masterplan.
The integration of public spaces such as courtyards and gardens is an important aspect of Jordan + Bateman’s designs. We believe that a successful and functional design reflects the nature of the landscape. Taking into consideration the climatic differences from summer through to winter, we felt that the design of both streets needed to have tranquil spaces for the warmer months, yet be easily permeable for pedestrian use, especially in winter conditions.
The Administration Street terminates at the front of the main Government building, and provides the basis for which a formal grid of building plots was formed. The main boulevard has a strong formal linear frontage. The buildings are staggered by a series of step backs, which creates a dynamic rhythm to an otherwise long linear street. The plots are further subdivided by vehicular streets, which run perpendicular to the central street.
Common to many primary roads in China, which are customary eight lanes in total, we wanted to provide a pleasant place for pedestrians to pass through. The crescent shaped façade of the overall built form provides the point where both Administration and Commercial streets are connected by a primary eight-lane carriageway. The façade of each plot within the crescent has a bold continuous frontage, which acts as a barrier to the quieter courtyard space that sits behind.
The centre point of the crescent, marked by a sculptural beacon, is essential to understanding the orientation of both streets. The beacon acts as a key node, which can see all axes from its centre point. This beacon will also be visible when in the commercial street, facing east.
The Commercial Street, like the Administration Street, was designed with a crescent façade of buildings, set back within a deep public space. The main boulevard and spinal route that form the Commercial Street is pedestrianised, in all but one intersection. The primary vehicular road intersects this space and needs to be addressed so as not to breakdown the overall fluid movement which we intend to provide. We resolved this by providing a footbridge and a shared surface, reducing speed and informing vehicles to the nature of the space, by a change in surface treatment.
Jordan + Bateman Architects has worked on several projects in China, producing a range of masterplans which are residential, commercial, mixed use or a combination of all three. We have a multi-disciplinary team of architects and urban designers who work together, to develop schemes for designs from initial concept stage, through to final 3D rendered perspectives.
