Mengya He
Architectural Engineering
Living with water: regeneration of the riverside area of Xiangtan
Xiangtan, as a riverside city located in southern China, witnessed a golden period of natural economy and water transport before China passing through some of the most formative moments of its politics and economy in the late 19th century. The riverside area of Xiangtan, as the starting point of the city, gradually lost its competitiveness since water transport is not efficient in the modern industry. Meanwhile, it suffers from yearly flooding due to the riverbank overtopping which impoverishes the area even more.
The design vision is to bring the natural economy back by configuring a sequence of communal programmes by the water edge, which urgently fill the vacancy of the temporary dwellings during flooding and may run differently regarding the changing water level. Bound up with the local water tradition, the project provides unique urban landscapes and experiences which brings improved safety, economic growth, and quality of life.