FLYING GARDEN — cheerygreen

Flying Garden
GIC Chengdu Central Park

A Park Against All Odds:

Occupied by extremely dense infrastructure and lacking green space!
Flying Garden: high-quality park is still possible.

Flying Garden

Time: April 2020 – March 2021
Location: Chengdu, Sichan, China
Designer: Jia
Team: Greenland Group, Donehome

This project was commissioned by Greenland Group Real Estate Company. The design team was tasked with creating a park that would harmonize with the surrounding commercial environment and elevate the overall ambiance of the area. However, the site presented numerous challenges. Despite its spaciousness, the land was fragmented and heavily occupied by infrastructural elements—including an electric transfer station, 15 underground fire exits, 14 exhaust outlets, and a subterranean driveway.

To address these complexities, Flying Garden proposed three key solutions:

Connecting: A two-level structure links the mall directly to the park, allowing smooth movement between green space and retail areas without creating complicated circulation.

Hiding: Sculpted green dunes with internal tunnels conceal exhaust outlets and other infrastructure. These tunnels serve as park entrances and provide access to underground parking lots.

Combining: A skate plaza functions as both an active public space and entrances to the underground level, helping clarify the site’s spatial layout and improve overall circulation.

By integrating these strategies, Flying Garden not only resolved infrastructural conflicts but also created green spaces that embrace the park, lowering the temperature compared to surrounding areas—ultimately transforming a fragmented site into a vibrant urban park."

SECTIONS:

From Top to Bottom:
C–C’ Section, A–A’’ Section, B–B’ Section, D–D’ Section

SITE ANALYSIS:
From Top to Bottom:
1. Activity Areas Surrounded by Greenery
2.Separation of Shopping Arcade and Residential Area
3.Elevated and Ground-Level Pathways
4.Activity Hubs

1: 77° Park
At the heart of the location, where foot traffic is concentrated, specific vegetation and fog devices encircle the area. This design ensures that the temperature within this space remains consistently 7–9°F lower than outside the park, aligning with the concept of “77 Degrees”—considered the most comfortable temperature for the human body.
1. Plant Cooling: According to research, vegetation can reduce ambient temperature by up to 6.3°F (3.5℃) through shading and evapotranspiration.
2:Fog cooling:
3:Spraying cooling:
4:Water cooling:

2: Art installation To support and enhance the commercial zone, the Plant Art Installation is designed as the most eye-catching and iconic feature of the park, it acts as a visual centerpiece that captivates visitors and draws them toward the retail area, ultimately boosting the mall’s economic vitality. The structure is made from ETFE, a lightweight and durable material widely used in architecture. Its outer shell features a rotating water-filled element that responds to temperature changes, creating a dynamic flow effect. Inside, an inflatable ETFE membrane supports the creation of a large, translucent sphere that is both visually striking and structurally efficient.

3: 2.0 ParksThis comprehensive design introduces the concept of the 2.0 Modern Landscape Park, which integrates interactive green spaces to enhance user engagement. Acting as a relaxing “green room” outside the mall, the park provides an inviting transition between indoor commercial activity and the outdoor public realm. Infrastructure elements are thoughtfully designed to connect the interior spaces of the mall with the exterior landscape, creating a seamless flow. By incorporating interactive features, the design transforms an ordinary, underutilized green area into a vibrant commercial outdoor green room park, enriching both experience and economic value.