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Nanjing Hexi Park Competition

Reimagining 2km of the Qin Huai waterfront as a world class cultural and family destination.

Nanjing, China

Visualisation of Nanjing Hexi Park showing sweeping terraced lawns, a riverside promenade, stepped amphitheatre seating and tree lined public spaces beside a landmark tower and the Yangtze River
Nanjing Hexi Park, a dramatic terraced waterfront landscape creating civic spaces, cultural venues and expansive green parkland along the Yangtze River

As part of their ambitious urban re-development plans, OCT Land had aspirations to transform a 2km stretch of the Qin Huai River waterfront into a world-class cultural and family-orientated destination that would provide an enduring legacy for the region and its people. Gillespies was a finalist in this closed international landscape competition.

The riverfront Nanjing Hexi Park will form the missing link in a series of open spaces and recreational areas that span the length of this major shipping route.

Gillespies’ shortlisted competition entry creates a dynamic landscape that intertwines nature and ecology, art and culture and social and entertainment. Our landscape-led concept seeks to use major landform, imaginative play features, water bodies and immersion in nature to attract visitors from across the world to the area, with unprecedented views across the river.

The park is split into a sequence of exquisite spaces that invite visitors on a journey of discovery, from informal entertainment spaces to more natural and ecological spaces. These include a central plateau with sculptural landforms and a large amphitheatre for events, a whirlpool play garden with ultra-modern sheltered structures that ensure the park can be used in all weathers; a cherry tree-lined river promenade with access to an urban beach; a biodiverse ecological parkland beside the river; and two gardens providing quieter spaces for escape and relaxation.

Aerial visualisation of Nanjing Hexi Park showing a linear waterfront park with tree lined promenades, landscaped gardens and a continuous green corridor set against a dense urban skyline.
Nanjing Hexi Park creates a continuous riverside green corridor, weaving parkland, promenades and civic spaces along the Yangtze waterfront
Visualisation of a contemporary riverside park with interactive water features, sculptural shade structures, terraced seating and people gathering within landscaped public spaces.
A vibrant waterfront park animated by cascading water features, sculptural canopies and terraced civic spaces designed for play, relaxation and community events
A shaded waterfront promenade framed by native planting and mature trees, encouraging walking, running and everyday social life along the river
A shaded waterfront promenade encourages walking and running along the river
A sculptural timber pavilion set among flowering trees and vibrant planting, creating a welcoming civic focal point within the park.
A civic focal park with planting and shaded pavilions
Aerial visualisation of a contemporary civic plaza with flowing water channels, circular planting beds, sculptural shade structures and tree lined gardens set within a dense urban district.
Aerial visualisation of a contemporary civic plaza with flowing water channels, circular planting beds and sculptural shade structures

Project details

Title

Nanjing Hexi Park Competition

Client

OCT Land

Project team

Gillespies

Gillespies team

Neil Matthew

Photography

Gillespies