Green-Blue Network in China

Nature-based urban drainage infrastructure

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    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.

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    Holcim Awards Acknowledgement prize Asia Pacific

    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.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    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.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    The site: lifeless concrete drainage filled with waste water, ubiquitous situation seen globally.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    Typical section: using primary treated wastewater to irrigate the terraced and porous river bank.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    The wastewater recycling systems to irrigate the vegetation and make nutrients removed.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    The wastewater recycling systems to irrigate the vegetation and make nutrients removed.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    Green wall and planter detail that recycles concrete material and water and enrich space.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    The waterway becomes a pleasant cool escape for the young white collar in the CBD area.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    The computer renderings of the green infrastructure transformed from a concrete drainage.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    A typical scene of the lush glen as public space transformed from the lifeless gray drainage.

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    Green-Blue Network in China

    The design team at work.

  • Awards Acknowledgement prize 2020–2021 Asia Pacific

By Kongjian Yu - Peking University & Turenscape, Beijing, China and

Ideas: Ecosystem Restoration, Nature-Based Solutions (NbS)

A project for the transformation of an existing infrastructure into a sustainable green-blue network for the city of Shenzhen.

Green-Blue Network in China

Project authors

  • JL
    Jia Lei

    Turenscape

    China

  • HC
    Hang Chen

    Turenscape

    China

  • LX
    Liu Xiangjun

    Turenscape

    China

  • YC
    Yehua Chen

  • ZY
    Zhang Yuan

    Turenscape

    China

  • YW
    Yuchen Wang

    Turenscape

    China

  • QL
    Qi Lu

    Turenscape

    China

  • JW
    Jing Wang

    Turenscape

    China

Project updates