The master plan celebrates the site’s history of the Grand Canal, the industrial heritage history of the Steel Factory River and Power Plant Rivers and the agricultural history of Xie Village and Ducheng Park.

Three key themes drive the masterplan:

Industrial transformation

Demonstrating how industrial heritage can provide inspiration for new environmental rejuvenation, recycling of materials and innovative design and contextual responses.

Resilience and climate change

Responding to the worldwide need to clean the waters, purify the air and increase biodiversity through applying a strong water and planting strategy

Transforming polluted canals to cleaner, more natural streams

The concept design transforms:

• polluted industrial walled canals to natural streams with natural cleaning systems
• the river bank spaces from industrial left over spaces to vibrant urban spaces with a strong ecological & cultural theme to a rejuvenated new town with the canals as the jewels within an open space system that supports ecology and enhances human health and well -being.

Green lungs of the canal systems link the various precincts, their land uses, urban functions and open space systems to create a more accessible and interconnected waterfront and more generous open space system.

Cultural heritage

Reflecting upon the past, the significance of the Grand Canal, Xie Village, water transport and the industrial and agricultural past.

Built form elements such as bridges, viewing decks are designed as destinations to engage with the canalscape, reflecting the rich history of the site.

The canalscape will be for the people with urban and ecological spaces that are engaging and interactive. It will tell the story of the site, its significant, rich canal and agricultural/trade history. It will provide engaging places and spaces for the community to engage and experience a variety of activities. It will restore back the original urban forests and clean water systems. It will provide generous space for community gardens and urban agriculture to build a sustainable future for the community.

The masterplan includes elements and references from the past and interweaves these with contemporary features that link the past with the future, in an engaging manner, aiming at creating a multi-layered and vibrant setting for the community.