Duke Garden, located northeast of Duke Kunshan University, spans approximately 28.9 hectares. It is a key node within the Miaojingwei area of the Sponge City pilot project, as well as an integral part of the local wetland system. It also serves as an important stopover for migratory birds. Unfortunately, excessive land reclamation has resulted in a monotonous environmental structure with diminished water quality and biodiversity.
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Urban Design & Architecture Design Awards 2025
Harmonious Symphony of Water: The Eloquent Aquatic Tapestry of Kunshan Duke Garden’s Landscape Design
Infrastructure (Concept)
Firm
Futurepolis Urban Planning & Architecture Design Inc.
Architect/Designer
SHI Huilai
Design Team
GAO Wei, ZHOU Lixun, FAN Yunlan, LI Rui, PANG Huitao
Location
Kunshan City, China
Country
China
Photographer/Copyright
©Futurepolis Urban Planning & Architecture Design Inc.
After conducting in-depth research on the ecological landscape surrounding Kunshan, the design team proposed a low-intervention environmental restoration strategy centered on reconstructing a diverse array of habitat types. This approach will transform the monotonous suburban farmland into a rich mosaic of habitats by seamlessly introducing forests, wetlands, grasslands, and aquatic environments. This transformation not only strengthens the ecological structure and connectivity, but also revives the temperate grasslands and maintains existing farmlands to support local economic sustainability.
Kunshan Duke Garden’s landscape design significantly reduces environmental impacts and enhances functions to improve water storage and purification. It also serves as an educational hub for Duke University while linking adjacent commercial and residential areas into a cohesive green community space.
The site of Kunshan Duke Garden is a typical suburban landscape consisting of farmland and a few nurseries. In the north, a man-made Baiyao Lake of approximately 9.5 hectares in size, was created through excavation. A canalized river, about 25 meters wide, lies to the east. Both bodies of water feature regular geometric shapes. Due to prolonged earth excavation, the deepest point reaches 11 meters and penetrates two groundwater layers. However, the water quality is only level IV to V. Signs of oil pollution are evident in both soil and water, and the soil shows clear traces of garbage landfill which led to a homogenous range of species and habitat types. The primary challenges, and scope of the project, is to restore damaged ecological characteristics, rejuvenate ecological vitality, improve water quality, increase biodiversity, and integrate active spaces to imbue the site with a new, distinct spirit.
The design anchors on water as the foundational element. Utilizing parametric analysis to simulate the characteristics of plains formed by natural water forces, the design team can extend the ecological interlace to enhance the Baiyao Lake shoreline. It will also reduce the slope of ecological embankments to increase the surface area of transition zones. Microorganisms, such as spirulina, will be added to purify water runoff while simultaneously augmenting the water’s storage and regulation capacity. This complex landscape system improves the site’s ecological environment, provides educational and research facilities for Duke University, and injects ecological vitality into the community.
Duke Garden’s water-based ecological purification approach marks a shift from traditional landscaping. It uses bioremediation and diverse landscapes to upgrade water quality from class IV-V to superior levels. This strategy reduces project costs and lessens the strain on nearby pipelines and rivers. This design approach meets diverse social needs by establishing a model for sustainable, community-focused landscape architecture.