番禺, 2023年
在中国南方的番禺区，近几十年来出现了高密度的城市空间，而以珠三角为特色的传统文化景观也越来越多地被用于建设和开发。提出绿色基础设施体系概念，旨在将高质量的开放空间开发融入城市化进程，将番禺打造成生态城市发展的灯塔区。
番禺是广州市的一个区，位于中国南部珠江三角洲。珠江流域及其支流，加上人类活动和设计，创造了一幅景观马赛克，其特点是水与土地、村庄、堤坝、运河、池塘和山丘的相互作用。几个世纪以来，这片圩田景观中形成了独特的定居点、水道和耕地系统。桑葚和鱼塘是独特的农业设施，按照循环利用的原则进行管理。
番禺的景观一直是动态景观，在人与自然的相互作用中不断变化。近几十年来，高密度的居住中心也出现了，周围环绕着城郊的住宅和商业建筑以及主要交通干线。然而，在快速城市化的过程中，越来越多的传统文化景观正在被牺牲以用于建设和发展。城市中心缺乏开放空间。与此同时，土壤和生物多样性大量丧失，水质下降。气候变化的区域影响也给三角洲景观的敏感系统带来了压力。
为了将自然和景观元素的保护和进一步开发牢固地融入城市化进程，使番禺成为生态城市发展的灯塔区，设计了一套完整的绿色基础设施体系。
番禺绿色基础设施概念覆盖整个区500多平方公里。它由二维要素和线性连接组成，需要定量和定性地开发。为此，将森林、公园、农业区、水道和湿地等区域和景观类型以及道路和旅游景点连接起来，形成目标网络。绿蓝廊道构成其基本框架，发挥着重要的自然和交通功能。由于密度的增加意味着可用于越来越多功能的开放空间越来越少，因此在适当和可能的情况下特别鼓励多功能利用。
A unique cultural landscape under pressure from urbanisation
Panyu is a district of the metropolis of Guangzhou, located in southern China’s Pearl River Delta. Over the centuries, the river system and human activity have created a distinctive polder landscape characterised by the interplay of water and land, featuring villages, dykes, canals, ponds and hills. Its mulberry fishponds are unique agricultural structures that are farmed according to circular principles.
The landscape of Panyu has always been dynamic, constantly changing through the interaction of humans and nature. In recent decades, high-density settlement centres have emerged, surrounded by peri-urban residential and commercial structures, as well as major traffic arteries. In the course of rapid urbanisation, more and more parts of the traditional cultural landscape are being sacrificed to make way for buildings and developments. Urban centres are lacking open spaces, while biodiversity, soil health, and water quality have been dramatically declining. At the same time, regional effects of climate change are putting pressure on the delta landscape’s sensitive ecosystem.
Designing a masterplan for Panyu’s green infrastructure
The Green Infrastructure Construction Plan for Panyu (2021-2035) aims at integrating the preservation and enhancement of natural spaces into the district’s urban planning. It conceives a coherent network of green infrastructure that covers the entire district of over 500km2, serving as an example for ecological urban development in China and beyond.
Corridors and barriers
An analysis of existing vegetation, water systems, and slow-mobility networks mapped important habitats and corridors. It assessed the quantity and quality of existing components, highlighted barriers created by urban development as well as discontinuities in pedestrian and bicycle paths.
Targeted interventions for better GI connectivity
Based on our analysis, we proposed a target network comprising forests, parks, agricultural areas, watercourses and wetlands as well as pathways and tourist sites. Linear green and blue corridors form the network’s connections and fulfil important natural and transport functions. While the network conception serves as a blueprint for future development, a roadmap of measures prioritises concrete steps towards implementation.
Conceiving high-quality multifunctional spaces for people and nature
The planned green infrastructure network integrates ecological functions with the sustainable development of mobility, recreation, and agriculture. As increasing densification constrains available open space, the plan encourages multifunctional utilisation where appropriate and possible.
Design guidelines
Detailed design guidelines define target qualities for network components. In close consultation with the client, we developed an indicator system to monitor urban open spaces and to track the implementation of the masterplan.
First realized projects
Informed by the masterplan, several planners have already designed and realised GI projects in Panyu, such as Shiqiao Waterway Greenway:
