Urban Valley – Yanlord Arcadia Shanghai by WJID offers infinite landscape possibilities
Holi

Urban Valley – Yanlord Arcadia Shanghai by WJID offers infinite landscape possibilities

9 Mar 2022  •  News  •  By Allie Shiell

Urban Valley by WIJD is a planned commercial district in Shanghai connecting Jiangpu Park in the south and a riverside greenbelt in the east to form an urban valley with infinite possibilities for residents to explore.  

Holi

The architectural design features a variety of dynamic, staggering spaces. Consistent with the architectural design, the landscape design is based on scaling and gradient changes to create connections between interior and exterior, and form a spatial layout with a square externally and courtyard internally.  Applying a modern interpretation to the feeling of woodlands, brooks, and mountains achieves a commercial space feeling that is both unique and natural. 

Holi

As a woodland is next to the park, the design attempts to extend the urban park to the site to form a multilayered three-dimensional urban valley. Firefighting access, which previously cut through the site is adjusted to be a curve, thereby enabling the site to lead up to the woodland from different angles. 

Holi

Level differences form visual interactions. The second floor is a garden shared by district residents. On the other side of the public garden is a private garden that allows residents to interact with the natural world, experience the charm of seasonal plants and escape from the stress of city life.

Holi

The brook is represented as a main entrance for the commercial district. With the scale purposefully narrowed down to replicate the form of an alley space in old Shanghai, the architects have extracted the elements of a ‘stream flowing in the valley.’ Cascade planting over the water and a cantilever form create a compelling entrance experience. 

Holi

Finally, stepping stones floating on the water surface of the tropical forest allow visitors to experience the feeling of going through the mountains.