Landscape Design for Forest Park and Central Section of Olympic Park in Beijing

Project Profile

Project Statement:

"Why am I often with eyes full of tears?
Because I love the land beneath my feet truly and deeply."

Concept: TERRACES OF TIME, Memory and Prophecy

China’s land, with its five thousand years of agriculture history, has been worked and reworked. The footprint of the past is in her terraced farmlands, waters and mountains, and sustainable agrarian practices. This footprint, integrated with cutting-edge biological and energy technologies, forms the foundation of the design of this historic Olympic Park. With this concept, a perfect combination of traditional spirits and modern biological and energy technologies was created as the Olympic Green, which sets a good example of sustainable landscape in China.

1．“Contour + Fields”: Forming the Structure and Symbolic Fabric

The forms below represent the marks and the memory of the site, taken as the extension of the northern and western hills and the fields in the region. This links the forest park and the central zones, structuring the landscapes across the whole park.

2.Terraced lakes + terraced wetlands: a minimum approach

In respecting the 10 meter difference in the site, the water body and the wetlands are terraced, which will dramatically reduce the amount of earthwork and preserve the clay bottom, reducing the risk of bottom leaking. This further creates cascades and other water features, while increasing the oxygen in the water.

3.A Sustainable Water System: reduce, reuse and recycle

As opposed to being another "stress" on Beijing’s clean water system, the Olympic Forest is to become an integral part of the city water treatment system of Beijing. The combined greenhouse-wetland cleaning system ensures high water quality year-round from a single yet inexpensive source

4. Vegetation: Applying the “Matrix-Patch-Corridor” Model of Landscape Ecology

One of the leading goals of the Olympic Forest is to create diverse habitats and an outdoor plant arboretum. The pattern of the agricultural planting in rural China is the main source of inspiration behind this planting design.

5 The Axis：A Symphony of Five Landscape Elements

Monumental, informative and interactive experiences are all well integrated in the axis. The five elements of the terraces, contour lines, forest belt, water and axis pavement form a linear matrix which, dotted with gardens, canopied areas, fountains, squares, plazas, and islands, each invite visitors to rest and play in the park.

6 Site Story: Environmental Interpretation System and Botanical Gardens

The interpretation facilities all through the park tell the stories of the sites history, and botanical gardens educate people with knowledge from nature. It is the terrace that connects man and nature, links history and future, unites Chinese people and people of the world.