Hangzhou Riverfront Public Space – Sanqiao Asian Games Park by TJAD Original Design Studio

Location: Hangzhou, China Architects: TJAD Original Design Studio Area: 1,945.4 m² Year Completed: 2023 Lead Architects: Ming Zhang, Zi Zhang, Bo Chen Photography: Yong Zhang, TJAD Original Design Studio

Revitalizing the Qiantang Riverbank for the Asian Games

Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River in Hangzhou’s Binjiang District, the Sanqiao Asian Games Park forms a key component of the city’s 12-kilometer waterfront public space revitalization project. Designed by TJAD Original Design Studio, this riverfront park exemplifies Hangzhou’s broader vision of creating an ecologically integrated, culturally vibrant, and intelligently designed urban landscape in preparation for the 2023 Asian Games.

With a design strategy rooted in the philosophy of “hosting a great event and enhancing the city,” the park is part of a transformative shift from “Asian Games” to “Asian Games+.” It not only elevates the user experience during the games but also ensures lasting civic benefits.

A Multifunctional Urban Waterfront

Sanqiao Asian Games Park acts as the northern gateway to Hangzhou’s expansive riverfront greenway. Its core components—Skateboard Park, Wetland Park, Yundu Station, and the Asian Games Mound—anchor a multi-use public space designed for recreation, ecological preservation, education, and sporting engagement. The design supports everyday use while integrating seamlessly with the infrastructure of the Olympic Sports Center.

Notably, the park contributes to the creation of a 17.4-kilometer sports belt free of physical walls, promoting continuity, safety, and interaction between the urban core and the riverside.

The “Orange-Blue Ribbon” Strategy and Super Seawall

At the heart of the project is the "Orange and Blue Ribbon" design concept, which symbolizes connectivity and vibrancy. The orange ribbon represents active movement paths, like running tracks and bike lanes, while the blue ribbon references ecological and landscape features along the water. Together, they form a unified system that makes the waterfront visually dynamic and spatially accessible.

A critical infrastructural element is the super seawall, integrated as part of the Anlan Trillion Seawall Project by the Zhejiang Provincial Water Resources Department. Without altering the height of the river barrier, the design achieves an elevation increase to 10.3 meters using an artistic wave-dissipation platform, upgrading the flood defense standard from a 100-year event to a 300-year event. Approximately 4.5 kilometers of seawall was elevated and reinforced.

Urban “Slices” for Seamless Connectivity

The landscape is punctuated by urban slices—sections that transition between the riverfront and the urban hinterland. These slices feature tree pits, display walls, rest pavilions, and fitness equipment, all unified by a design language derived from waveforms. Plantings and tree species enhance the natural experience, forming river-facing corridors that invite movement and relaxation.

Yundu Station: Blurring Architecture and Landscape

A central architectural feature is Yundu Station, covering 1,945.4 m² across two levels—an underground concrete level and an above-ground steel-structured pavilion. Originally the site of a cruise wharf, Yundu Station now functions as an urban service hub and event venue. Its design approach is described as a surgical intervention, respecting the site’s history while enhancing its relevance for today’s city life.

The structure’s floating blue path, framed by four rhomboid roof units supported by V-shaped diagonal struts, creates a lightweight, transparent feel. The cantilevered roof, just 200mm thick, appears to float, symbolizing the architectural lightness of the park itself. All mechanical and service rooms are tucked underground, maximizing surface-level openness for public engagement.

Interactive and Playful Design for All Ages

The park includes multiple recreational zones: basketball courts, a children's sandpit, rocking horses, and an extreme skateboard park. The Asian Games Mound, located near Wentao Road, features artistic concrete sculptures incorporating colors from the Asian Games logo and historical Olympic year markers. These not only serve as sculptural seating but also double as educational installations celebrating Asian Games history.

A signature element is the blue translucent concrete railing, a prefabricated design that functions as both a safety feature and a light-integrated viewing platform, offering an inviting space to rest, view, and interact with the riverfront.

A Model for Future Public Space Design

Recognized as the “Most Beautiful Greenway in Hangzhou” in 2023, the Zhijiang Greenway’s riverfront section in Binjiang District—anchored by Sanqiao Asian Games Park—embodies the future of urban design in China. It harmonizes infrastructure, landscape, architecture, and public engagement into a vibrant, resilient, and multifunctional space.