Back to the Mountains, Facing the Water: Embracing Peaks and Gathering Energy
This project is situated beside Xingguang Avenue at Zhaomu Mountain in the Liangjiang New District of Chongqing. It borders Xinghu School to the east and resonates with Longhu Shunshan Prefecture. Unlike the Zhaomu Mountain Forest Park located deeper within Chongqing, this development offers exceptional, high-quality landscape resources. The design thoughtfully integrates the natural terrain and optimizes lateral traffic flow, creating a harmonious environment. On this land, which symbolizes the city’s origins and roots, culture and aesthetics converge, presenting new possibilities for Chongqing’s future living environment through a light, dynamic, and fluid design language.
▲ Location Map
The courtyard and garden landscaping blend Chinese and Western influences inspired by the Yuanmingyuan, adopting a dynamic and open approach. Modern aesthetics are incorporated to craft landscapes that harmonize mountains and water. The planning emphasizes a hierarchy of large and small courtyards, offering unique views and overlapping natural elements.
Employing GPS seedling positioning technology, over 1,000 mature trees were transplanted to restore the park’s natural canopy. A minimum 10-meter setback from the red line creates a green buffer along the street, enhancing the park’s edge.
▲ General Layout Plan
▲ Scheme Development
High-Walled Secret Realm: A Retreat to Nature
Inspired by Chongqing’s mountainous architecture and terrain, this development cultivates a sense of community defined by seclusion. The Dust Forest is a “hidden gem within the city,” designed as a truly low-density community that is “open to the outside world, yet private and serene within.” Due to the mountainous terrain, the southwest side features significant elevation changes, creating staggered levels and a layered spatial experience. Amidst the urban environment, this ultimate forest secret realm brings nature back into the city.
▲ Topographic Profile Map
The entrance gate stands approximately 5 meters tall, crafted from black and white marble in the style of the Shengqisen Mirror Gate. The design features minimalist and modern elements, including open water features. Surrounding retaining walls are arranged in a 2+1+1 layout, forming a high-walled secret realm that isolates the community from the city, allowing residents to reconnect with the forest sanctuary.
Spatial Scale: Simplifying Complexity
The facade design embraces modern composition principles, focusing on balanced proportions and precise control within a classic three-part structure. It inherits the hall’s central axis and is divided into three horizontal sections with cantilevered elements, simplifying complexity and minimizing obstruction to the indoor functional spaces. This enhances comfort and clarity. Distinct functional blocks interlock, balancing solid and void elements with a concise and elegant expression. The use of silver aluminum panels and light blue glass materials, along with a simple, squared roof design, elevates the building’s spirit.
▲ Facade Development
▲ Facade Technique Analysis
The facade features clean, pure treatments with meticulous attention to detail. Doorways, roofs, walls, balconies, and moldings are carefully designed, with strict control over facade joints to produce a refined and elegant overall appearance.
From Noise to Serenity: The Elevated Layer of the Dust Forest
The elevated level within the Dust Forest separates active and quiet zones, while interconnected pathways provide residents with an ideal, human-centered living environment that offers high comfort. Combining steel framing with glass creates a transparent reception area, seamlessly blending the outdoor forest landscape with indoor displays.
Residents benefit from both public activity spaces and semi-open neighborhood areas, enhancing continuity between indoor and outdoor living spaces and fostering a closer connection to nature. This elevated platform acts as a bridge between urban and residential spaces, offering a natural environment with a human touch and facilitating a shared community experience for all ages.
Because of the elevation difference between the Dust Forest site and the adjacent road, the lobby features a double-layer design. The perforated aluminum panels on the lobby ceiling, combined with tree-shaped shadow patterns, embody the philosophy of life and infuse daily life with a profound sense of ceremony.
Each unit in Chenlin Forest offers independent access to public areas, providing a villa-level living experience. Bedrooms boast 270° views and versatile, adaptable layouts for flexible sharing. Large bay windows enhance the spatial experience, while ample storage is available near the entrance. The integrated dining and tea lounge creates a comfortable shared environment. The U-shaped kitchen features an ultra-long countertop and connects directly to the living balcony.
▲ 110 ㎡ Floor Plan (Interior)
▲ 134 ㎡ Unit Floor Plan (Interior)
▲ 158 ㎡ Floor Plan (Interior)
Set away from the city’s hustle and bustle, the project is presented in a unique modern style nestled among hidden mountains and forests. The architectural sequence is meticulously organized, with harmonious interior and exterior enhancements. These spaces complement and coexist, embodying the essence of modern art by transcending the limitations of natural beauty to create an elevated aesthetic experience.
Project Information
Project Name: Chongqing Longhu Dust Forest
Location: Beside Xingguang Avenue, Zhaomu Mountain, Liangjiang New District, Chongqing
Building Area: 947.93 million square meters
Developer: Chongqing Longhu Chuangxin Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.
Architectural Design: Shanghai Chengzhi Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Chief Architect: Li Jie
Design Director: Xu Peng
Design Team: Chen Capital, Li Jianfei, Cui Karen, Liu Zeyu, Deng Wenkai
Construction Drawing Design: Water Stone Design
Landscape Design: JTL Studio Pte. Ltd.
Landscape Construction: Chongqing Jisheng Landscape Co., Ltd.
Interior Decoration Design: Shenzhen Puyue Design Consulting Co., Ltd.
Interior Decoration Construction: Chongqing Jiasheng Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Curtain Wall Consulting: Beijing Gaobiao Times Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd.
Curtain Wall Construction: Fujian Nanlv Engineering Co., Ltd.
Civil Engineering General Contractor: Chongqing Tuoda Construction Group Co., Ltd.
Design Period: January 2018 – September 2018
Completion Date: June 2019
Project Photography: Prism Photography, Three Image Photography (by Lu Bin)
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