Meixi Lake Masterplan / KPF / China

Meixi Lake Masterplan

• Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
• Location:  Changsha, China  
• Client:  Gale International, Changsha Municipal People's Government of Hunan Province 
• Type:  Master-plan / Planning
• Area:  1,887 acre's
• Consultants:  Gale International, Structural Engineer: ARUP  
• Project Status:  In Progress

International architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) recently announced that their design for the 120 million square foot master plan for Meixi Lake in Changsha, China is being realized. A new city in the West Changsha Pioneer Zone in Hunan Province, Meixi Lake is centered around a 3.85 kilometers long lake. Upon completion, the city will be home to 180,000 inhabitants, and will provide residents, workers and visitors sustainable neighborhoods for living, working, recreation, culture and entertainment. 

According to KPF Design Principal James von Klemperer. "Over the last 10 years, China's cities have grown in two ways: by increasing density within the historical cores, and by adding new cities adjacent to the old. The latter phenomenon has resulted in a twin city paradigm. Thus, we have Shanghai's Puxi and Pudong. Beijing's old center and new CBD. Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and many other cities have sprouted new towns.

Meixi Lake establishes a paradigm of living in balance with nature. The master plan is densely concentrated, offering a variety of functions and building types that seamlessly integrate with the surrounding mountains, lakes, parks, and canals. The result is an environment that promotes both health and prosperity. Located within the large, metropolitan area of Changsha, Meixi Lake offers a new model for the future of a Chinese city and development around the world.

Water is the primary element of design, the heart and center of the master plan. A 40 hectare lake is the "central park" of the city, providing transportation and space for gardens and cultural events. Linked with a series of radial canals are eight neighborhood clusters that house 10,000 people each. Transportation by boat is highly prevalent, reducing the need for automobiles and pollution.

The radial geometry of the city plan allows for a highly efficient transport system, reducing potential pollution and energy use. Additional sustainable strategies include gray and black water collection systems, distributed energy plants and urban agriculture. Advanced environmental engineering, pedestrian planning, cluster zoning and garden integration are all integral components of this holistic design.