Foster + Partners’ masterplan for a large, historically important site in the centre of Wuhan has been granted planning permission. Rooted in analysis of Wuhan’s history and unique urban form, Yuexiu International Financial City will establish a new district, which is open and seamlessly integrated with the surrounding streets, and can regenerate the city’s once vibrant heart. Located close to Jingwu Road, once famous for its street vendors, the masterplan reflects the diverse activities that formerly came together on the site. The design team studied the area’s history, the scale and form of its buildings, streets and public spaces, and mapped the different communities around Wuhan. The 147,000-square-metre scheme includes a series of office and residential towers, as well as a hotel and impressive new public spaces, animated by a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants at ground level. The aim is to create a walkable, highly permeable new part of the city – the volume of traffic has been reduced and the majority of vehicles have been relocated below ground to create a network of pedestrian streets, with road widths kept to a minimum. Luke Fox, Senior Executive Partner, Studio Head said: “Our aim has been to create a new urban model for Wuhan – a unique and exciting new destination, with a sustainable mixture of commercial and residential uses, but which feels familiar and of its place. Rather than create an enclosed ‘city within a city’, we have stitched this new quarter into the surrounding streets. It will have a distinctive new identity, but one that is inspired by local architecture, history and culture.”
