Plant-themed park · Pengshan, near Chengdu, China
A botanical carnival for the five senses.
The masterplan of a 79 ha plant-themed park, 50 km from Chengdu, in three phases. It combines water and light attractions, a “Magic Forest” lake, a honeycomb-pattern shopping street, themed hotels and village lodging, and farming activities.
Client
Chengdu Zhongxing Lele Tourism and Culture Development Co.
Team
Groupe Signes (Chengdu office), with Jing Mu Tian Xia as local design partner, and Signes Archi
Site
Pengshan, Meishan, 50 km from Chengdu
Area
79 ha in three phases
(phase areas to confirm)
Capacity
1,000,000 visits a year
Timeline
October 2018 consultation; delivery of phases I and II, June 2019
Status
Design delivered
Phases
I · II · III
The site
The park lies on the plain 50 km from Chengdu, in Pengshan, in the Minjiang agricultural area and close to the irrigation area of the historic Tongji Weir. Much of the land is collective agricultural land, with poultry farms in the third phase, a river along the edge and a ring of roads around it. The design builds on the water and the farming character of the place. ((draft, to confirm))
The challenge
Turn agriculture into an immersive family destination: a park that teaches plants and farming through the five senses, and still works as a commercial leisure resort.
The programme
The client asked for a smart theme park centred on plants, in three phases:
Phase I · 12 ha — An entrance plaza with an ecological corridor to the car park, a water park and LED play space for families, a shopping street in modular architecture, and restaurants.
Phase II · 22 ha — A lake with a “Magic Forest” island and two boat routes, a World Garden, a plant greenhouse, a small train, a night island of light, and an audiovisual attraction.
Phase III · 45 ha — A landmark themed hotel, a rice-field hotel, village lodging in West Sichuan style, waterside cabins, and farming activities.
- Parking for at least 2,000 vehicles, with a vehicle loop around the park
- A mobile app and a signage system for visitors, by theme and by service
Mission of the team
- The masterplan and bird’s-eye views, with the list of attractions, services and comfort facilities
- Site analysis and design description, the concept of each node, and environmental design (ecological suggestions, plants and materials)
- An economic feasibility proposal
- Revision of the plan after the January 2019 review: circulation, water system, parking and building layout
- Preparation of the planning submission documents
Mission of Signes Archi
- Masterplan of the three phases
- Architecture of all the buildings of the park
- Landscape strategy: water and boat routes, the Magic Forest island, ecological corridor, planting and materials, circulation and parking
Timeline
October 2018 consultation · January 2019 review meeting and plan revision · June 2019 delivery of phases I and II
Scope and themes: Strategy, studies and planning · Design · Permits and approvals · 3D, BIM visualization and films
Draft for review. Image captions, client credit and the phase areas are not final.