POST DEFENSIVE WATER COMPLEX

The project is located in Beijing, an ancient city that is remained with the partial ancient city walls and moat. As rapid development occurs over recent years. The ancient wall with its previous use to defend the enemy has lost its function and is being destroyed. Most of the moat branches are changing into culvert and the main moat is enclosed by concrete to deny any connection with the city. The reduction of the river system brought the issue of flooding when storms occur.

The architectural ambition is to build the relationship between the citizens and river, but also to arouse the cultural memory of the ancient wall and moat. The site is at the corner of the southeast moat where a corner tower had been remained and is adjacent to the urban village. The proposal uses water to stitch the boundaries. The concrete enclosure of the moat is planning to be demolished and allowing the water to permeate into the landscape and architecture to provide continuous water-friendly experiences to all citizens. The culvert through the urban village is planning to be renovated according to the daylighting stream to return the river back to the citizens and to slow down the flooding issue.

The water combined with landscape and architecture provides an easement zone for daily recreation of bathing and other activities. The city wall is used as an element not only to defend the water or the public but also for the water to cross and create continuous movement of scene and connection with the corner tower.