Nature-based urban drainage infrastructure
The innovative design integrates flood control, wastewater treatment, nature restoration and public space together, transforms a lifeless concrete drainage into green that provides 0.7 million people a cool and pleasant escape, increases flood resiliency by 36%, saves 70% of wastewater treatment energy consumption. The nature-based solution tested in this pilot project is replicable throughout the city and the world.
Winner presentation to Green-Blue Network in China - Nature-based urban drainage infrastructure without winning authors present (l-r): Maria Atkinson, Chairperson of the Holcim Foundation (at podium); Magali Anderson, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation, Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer of the Holcim Group; and Philippe Block, Member of the Holcim Awards jury Asia Pacific 2020.
The step-by-step process of transforming concrete drainage into green infrastructure using a nature based symbiotic design, to give water more space to increate flood resiliency, to remove the rich nutrients in the primary treated waste water through the biological process saving a lot energy, to follow the tide cycle to make waterfront more accessible, and create a urban nature that allow residents to have an immersive rich and pleasant spatial experience in the lush and cool glen.
A project for the transformation of an existing infrastructure into a sustainable green-blue network for the city of Shenzhen.
By Kongjian Yu - Peking University & Turenscape, Beijing, China and
Through a step-by-step approach, the Liyumen Waterway Park transforms an inefficient drainage system of the Qianhai district, Shenzhen, into an efficient and desirable green-blue network for the city. The proposed infrastructure provides a new green area for Shenzhen’s inhabitants while integrating flood control and wastewater treatment systems. The new 15-km2 CBD is expected to accommodate over 700,000 people, where greenspace will be highly valued in the dense business/residential district.
Project authors
Turenscape
Turenscape
Turenscape
Turenscape
Turenscape
Turenscape
Turenscape
The concrete canal of the existing drainage infrastructure is partly reconfigured to allow the creation of a wide terraced wetland and the development of a lush vegetation. Concrete is recycled to form the gabion for planters, retaining walls and the boardwalk. The presence of mangroves and wetland plants activates biological processes that function as a natural treatment to clean the wastewater, which is subsequently reused to irrigate and fertilize the park.
This results in a lush urban oasis that provides multiple environmental benefits, including an increase in flood resilience by 36%, energy savings of 70% for wastewater treatment, as well as microclimate mitigation and the general enhancement of the city’s livability. The nature-based solution tested in this pilot project is replicable throughout the city to tackle the issue of water pollution on a territorial scale.
The jury highly appreciated the symbiotic approach that deploys vegetation at the center of this proposal, that moves beyond the biophilic landscape design perspective. Holcim Awards 2020 jury for Asia Pacific
Project Update
Shenzhen, China
Regional Jury Report – Asia Pacific | Eclepens, Switzerland
Eclepens, Switzerland
Global Awards Finalist Entry
Beijing, China
Media Release
Venice, Italy
Statements on Sustainability by Project Authors
Shenzhen, China
CO2 Lifecycle Assessment by Project Authors
Beijing, China
