Xiaohe Park, situated along the banks of the Grand Canal—a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site—has been revitalized from an abandoned oil factory industrial zone into a versatile, open public park.
Our vision for this park is to create a new community hub that honors both cultural and historical heritage while seamlessly integrating with the dynamic urban life of Hangzhou. To preserve the site’s historic essence, we chose minimal interventions. A delicate ETFE canopy, designed with a custom dot print pattern, stretches across the entire building complex. This canopy filters sunlight, casting soft, semi-transparent shadows reminiscent of leaves, inviting visitors to explore the space from all directions.
We have preserved four historic warehouses and seven oil tanks, transforming them into theaters, event spaces, shops, and vertical connecting passages. While maintaining the original warehouse structures, we incorporated Corten steel elements to complement the exposed concrete and red brick, thus retaining the unique industrial character of the site. A large, circular sunken garden brings natural light and greenery to the retail area beneath the new park.
Project Information
Architect: Kengo Kuma Architecture Urban Design Firm
Area: 51,000 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Tian Fangfang
Design Team: Anteo Taro Boschi Sanada, Tz-li Lin, Bobo Wu, Gechang Xu*, Andrea Barron Terceros*, Yoo Shiho, Weiyi Que
Collaborative Design Institute: Zhejiang University Architectural Design and Research Institute
Equipment Design: Zhejiang University Architectural Design and Research Institute
Lighting Design: Isometrix
Location: Hangzhou
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