Man-made islands and other sustainable designs

In October 2012, Hassell attracted international attention for its visionary sustainable design ideas at the World Architecture Festival (WAF). The company took away three awards and a commendation - the most of any participating design firm.

The practice dominated the ‘future projects’ categories, winning awards for projects that address sustainable design challenges in both the Australian and Chinese context.

“It is great to have our work recognised on the world stage amid such competition. It is testimony to both our talented designers and the trust placed in us by fantastic clients,” said Rob Backhouse, Managing Director of Hassell.

Winning the Future Projects - Experimental category was Hassell’s concept of ‘man-built islands’ for Dongqian Lake in Ningbo, China. The lake - a water reservoir for the residents of Ningbo - had required regular dredging, which resulted in a large quantity of by-product. The local authorities recognised an opportunity to use this by-product for the creation of a man-made island within the lake.

The Ningbo Planning Bureau for Dongqian Lake Tourist and Holiday Resort invited a select group of consultants to provide conceptual proposals for the development of an island precinct, and Hassell’s was selected. The proposal included the construction of several new islands in the centre of the lake, with the concept of the islands based on the interpretation of the existing natural and urban context, as well as the conservation of local resources.

        

Intense usage of lakeside areas for tourism is leading to significant negative impacts on the environment - the depletion of natural resources, the pollution of waterways and the reduced health of the lake’s fish population. The long-term viability of the tourism industry, which relies heavily on the natural features of the surrounding area, is also affected.

The Hassell scheme seeks to develop a more sustainable approach to tourism for Dongqian Lake, especially the interaction of people with the environment. It is also intended to recognise the importance of the lake to the local people and their economy. Three main historic relationships between people and water are recognised in this project:

• the reliance on water for survival and basic needs
• the importance of maintaining the quality of water to thrive
• the need to re-balance the current use of water for future sustainable needs

The scheme features an operational system for the islands with a focus on water. This will be further implemented in actual practice, combining the local fishery industry with the natural water circulation systems. A number of key outcomes are proposed, including: water purification; flexibility to redevelop local industries with future change; and the retention of the memory of the industrial heritage of the lake for future generations.

The main island is constructed from soil that is created from the dredging of the lake, while smaller islands are floating structures. The smaller islands are designed to incorporate water filtration and fish breeding functions to provide continual improvement of the lake’s water quality and fish population. Throughout the year, these islands move position - from the existing lakeside villages (at the start of the breeding cycle) to the main island, where visitors enjoy recreational functions while learning about their environmental purpose.

  

The main island incorporates a small farm and orchard which provide the resort with some of its vegetables and fruits. This enables the resort to be self-sufficient in terms of seasonal produce and reduces the need to transport supplies over the lake. The farm and orchard also provide an educational experience, focused on environmental sustainability and engaging with its context, for island visitors. It is in sharp contrast to the more common tourism experiences around the lake which are generally themed, superficial and do not enhance the natural or social environment.

Hassell was also awarded for its proposal for Perry Park, a sports and recreation centre on a park and wetland site outside Sydney, which won the Future Projects - Competition Entries category. The proposal details a series of buildings and sports facilities, including a sports hall with a plywood frame and polycarbonate roof. The judges thought the project showed “a sensitive and appropriate use of materials and architectural vocabulary that contributes to a sense of place.”

  

The Tianjin Binhai Transport Interchange won the Future Projects - Infrastructure category for Hassell. The interchange will create a connection between a high-speed rail network and three metro lines and will feature raised gardens along one edge. The judges commented that “the structures are humanised and create spaces which are full of light and cleverly landscaped.”

  

Common Ground, an affordable housing project in inner Sydney, received a high commendation in the Houses category. Common Ground recently achieved a 5 Star Green Star sustainability rating - the highest sustainability rating awarded to an apartment project in NSW.

Shanghai-based Hassell Chairman Peter Duncan said the company is extremely honoured to have been shortlisted for 10 awards at the festival.

“The awards are a recognition of our depth and range of expertise and affirmation of Hassell as a design firm that’s global in outlook and local in touch,” said Duncan. “We will continue to apply our collaborative, cross-disciplinary design approach to bring holistic solutions to our clients and projects.

“The winning projects are in categories spanning competition entries, experimental and infrastructure, a reflection of the calibre, depth and range of our work.”

The 2012 WAF, which brought together over 1750 architects from more than 60 countries, marks Hassell’s best showing in the annual competition. It builds on the Overall Award - Interiors and Fit Out that was awarded to the ANZ Centre in Melbourne at WAF in 2010.