Search AZ Awards ...
Awards By Category

For decades, the edge of China’s Fu River was little more than a concrete embankment. Like many municipalities around the world, the city of Chongqing had made the mistake of transforming its natural riverfront into a hard, “impenetrable” flood wall. It not only made for a dull, lifeless setting, but it ultimately failed at its sole purpose, as extreme weather became more frequent and waters threatened the surrounding farmland. Enter Turenscape.

“This is a transformative public landscape that gives evidence for the value of green infrastructure on multiple levels fundamental to the resilience of cities.”
Marc Ryan, AZ Awards 2021 Juror

The Beijing-based landscape architects (winners of past AZ Awards) have replaced the flat concrete barrier with a natural habitat that welcomes the water instead of repelling it. The nearly 99-hectare park that now embraces the river is a constructed wetland of naturally porous, biodiverse and flood-resilient indigenous vegetation complemented by a series of ponds and islands.

It serves as a great green sponge that retains monsoon floods while capturing nutrient-rich agricultural runoff. A series of simple pedestrian paths cut across the terrain, pleasantly contrasting the unmanicured landscape with a radically pared-down — and conspicuously artificial — geometry of sharp intersecting angles. The walkways resolve at sculptural seating areas that offer pockets of sheltered respite.

It’s a revitalized ecosystem. And it works. In 2020, Chongqing faced a 100-year storm that submerged the plants and footpaths. But the landscape quickly recovered, absorbing the water as intended and protecting nearby farms from flooding.

Team Kongjian Yu with Huiyong Zhang, Fei Shao, Yaqi Zhang, Liming Chen, Jian Zong, Jialiang Sun, Liusha Zhang, Donghua Zhang, Mingyu Cao, Lei Zhang and Wentao Li

Winner: Landscape Architecture
AZ Awards 2021 Winner: Welcoming the Water – Tongnan Dafosi Wetland Park

For decades, the edge of China’s Fu River was little more than a concrete embankment.

Explore more Award Winners

2018
Award of MeritLandscape Architecture
Location
Pujiang County, Zhejiang Province, China
Firm
Turenscape, China
2019
People’s ChoiceLandscape Architecture
Location
Toronto, Canada
Firm
Public Work, Canada
2015
Award of MeritLandscape Architecture
Location
Calgary, Canada
Firm
The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative