Zhengzhou Mixed Use Development / Trahan Architects

Trahan Architects have proposed a 4.3 million square-foot mixed-use development in the historic city center of Zhengzhou, China – the capital and largest city of the Henan province, with a population of 8.6 million. The concept is part of a broad scale master plan for redeveloping Zhengzhou through ecological and infrastructure development. Continue after the break for more images and the project description.

Courtesy of Trahan Architects

Located in central China, Zhengzhou is experiencing rapid re-development. Zhengzhou’s broad scale master plan labeled “The Rise of Central China” is implementing a two part initiative: ecological and infrastructural development. Ecological development prioritizes the surrounding natural resources, such as forest park, scenic areas, wetlands/reserves, rivers/lakes and urban green space. The Infrastructural development addresses an emerging market identified as “Logistics Industry”.

Courtesy of Trahan Architects

Zhengzhou is to serve as an integrated hub for the import/export of goods and mass transportation which connects the east and the west. The project site is located in the historic city center which is the primary shopping district just north of the main train station and just south of the People’s Park (a large public park). The Erqi Monument resides to the south west corner of the site and is the primary tourist attraction in Zhengzhou. The monument is a 27 floor double pagoda dedicated to a worker strike that occurred February 7, 1923.

Courtesy of Trahan Architects

Challenging central China’s conventional typology, the proposed design blends the hotel and live/work top with the retail base. In order to maximize and prioritize the corners of the site, the hotel and live/work program are rotated over the corners, framing the exterior and interior.

Courtesy of Trahan Architects

The green boulevards flow into and up the edges of the site to create a green urban space at the mezzanine level. Envisioned as an entertainment level, patrons can enjoy amenities and an elevated view of the city. The retail base steps down in plan and section for greater connectivity to the adjacent urban edges. The gradated triangulated façade reinforces the corners and programmatic relationships from floor to floor.