Square & Round

Project Profile

1. Project Statement

This is an experimental case of a micro rain garden. The project was part of the 2013 Chaumont-sur-Loire International Garden Festival in France and has been preserved as a permanent installation. The design integrates contemporary rainwater utilization concepts with traditional garden philosophies, creating an intimate and aesthetically pleasing space for observation and experience. It offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional Chinese gardens, designed in a form with a square outer shape and circular inner space. It employs the techniques of creating enclosed spaces, achieving grand effects within small spaces, and applying earthwork techniques for filling and excavation.

2. Objective and Challenge

Solving urban flooding is an international issue. The Chinese courtyard and habitation model's contribution to the world lies not only in the profound exploration of artistic conceptions but also in the wisdom of ecological adaptation to the environment. The principle of directing water towards the center and retaining it is the essence of Chinese courtyard art, cleverly utilizing rainwater to turn waste into treasure and harm into benefit. Artistically, Chinese courtyards aim to recreate nature in enclosed spaces, using elements like artificial mountains, water features, pavilions, pathways, and plants. Spatially, they employ techniques such as nested boxes and grand effects within small spaces, creating limitless experiences and landscapes within limited spaces. Unlike contemporary Western gardens with their focal points and radial lines and paths, the "Square & Round" project uses contemporary design language to reinterpret the wisdom of traditional Chinese courtyards, their philosophy of life, the methods of creating living environments, and the art of experience, integrating contemporary ecological concepts, including rainwater utilization.

3. Design Strategy

Applying the green sponge concept, the project uses infiltration, detention, storage, purification, and utilization techniques for rainwater management within a 10-square-meter space.

Rainwater Detention and Storage: The site is in a low-lying area of the park. Simple excavation forms a square detention pool, with the excavated earth creating elevated areas around it, suitable for planting bamboo and forming an enclosed square space. The pool reflects the sky, moving clouds, and changing vegetation, creating an infinite landscape within a finite space.

Permeable Paving: The area around the pool is paved with permeable materials, including coarse sand and biomass materials, directing rainwater and runoff from the elevated areas into the pool.

Biological Purification Zone: Local aquatic plants are placed around the pool, utilizing the edge effect to create a small habitat that purifies nutrients in the water, maintains the aquatic environment, and keeps the water clean.

Scenic Water Reflection: Rainwater creates a mirror in the small space, reflecting the sky and clouds, expanding the space infinitely. A curved wooden boardwalk crosses the square pool, floating above the water. The boardwalk is only 50 cm wide, allowing one person to pass, symbolizing the "circle" and providing a path to experience the infinite scenery of the pool. In the center of the pool are three clusters of red bamboo poles, which can be taken from the surrounding bamboo forest as a renewable material. The vertical bamboo clusters along the boardwalk create a thrilling experience for visitors, with their reflections in the water and changing sky creating a serene and profound atmosphere. Despite the pool being only 30 cm deep, the vertical red bamboo poles create a sense of infinite depth. The surrounding plants and those in the water are all Chinese species, enhancing the Chinese atmosphere.

4. Conclusion

Square and circle, straight and curved, saturated red and changing water and sky, vibrant green bamboo clusters, and red bamboo poles piercing the sky—from elements to space, "Square & Round" offers an experience of China: the wisdom of rain and water, the wisdom of creating living environments, and the wisdom of the relationship between humans and nature. It is traditional China, but it should also be contemporary China!