PEARLS OF WONDER

Wantou & Vanke Paradise Art Wonderland is a socially-orientated open plaza designed to bring the people of Hefei together. Designed by ASPECT Studios Shanghai, the new public space is located in the centre of Xin Zhan’s District’s western zone and reflects the nearby Shao Quan Lake and civic green belt.

The young, millennial population in this area have a taste for high-end modern living. The overall design used the city’s flower, the pomegranate, to guide the form, colour and composition of the plaza. The result is a bold, energetic space full of colour and light. Throughout the process, the architects kept the residents at the forefront of the development by creating a design that matched modern urban living. Wantou & Vanke Paradise Art Wonderland features a pocket park, children’s play area and a community park to cater to residents of all ages.

The Pomegranate Flower stands tall as the centrepiece of the urban pocket park. The light sculpture, inspired by the pomegranate flower’s stamens, is enhanced by the rhythmic paving and bespoke planters. Red and white seating is arranged in clusters for people to rest and connect, while the shade shelters reflect the compact, layered pomegranate fruit. The shadows create interesting shapes on the ground and provide a shady spot for the summer months.

While the urban park is calming, the children’s playground is active and energetic. The space is striped with a blue and green carpet to represent rivers and forests, with mountain-inspired play mounds speckled throughout. Areas of fixed- and free-play challenges and encourages children, allowing them to build social and physical skills.

The grand community park forms a multi-functional space that is perfect for residents to interact and come together. It features a picnic space, pergolas, clusters of trees and public seating to create a semi-enclosed area for people to congregate in smaller groups. This section of the park is well suited to community gatherings and public events.