Dongshan Island Healthy Living Community by MORE Architecture

Dongshan Island in Huzhou represents a pioneering shift in contemporary Chinese urbanization. Designed by MORE Architecture, this 25,000-square-meter development proposes a new model for high-density living that merges urban comfort with rural heritage. Instead of the typical gated, high-rise xiaoqu, the project introduces an open, mid-rise neighborhood that prioritizes health, sustainability, community interaction, and a human-scaled urban experience.

A New Urban Typology for China’s Evolving Cities

Dongshan Island is envisioned as a healthy community-based residential model that challenges the traditional high-rise residential tower. Despite the relatively high density of 100 homes per hectare, the neighborhood retains an intimate scale through mid-rise structures with a maximum height of 24 meters. By eliminating cars from the site and dedicating surrounding land to allotment gardens and farming, the development connects residents to nature and promotes healthier lifestyles.

Urban Meets Rural: Reinventing Chinese Residential Living

The client, Huazhang Real Estate, sought a new way to blend urban convenience with rural living quality. Rather than relying on the typical north-south oriented tower blocks, MORE Architecture developed a mid-rise urban villa system, creating a vibrant, comfortable neighborhood structured around human scale, community life, and natural views.

Key Features of the Mid-Rise Urban Scheme

• Urban villas limited to 24 meters high
• Four-story buildings along the waterfront and six–seven-story buildings further inland
• A block typology measuring 18×18 meters, centered around a core—uncommon in Chinese housing design
• Flexible apartment layouts allowing 1, 2, or 4 units per floor, plus duplex options
• A northern block designed with a slab typology and dual cores for panoramic views

This new typology creates diversity, improves ventilation, enhances daylight, and provides every unit with open views to surrounding hills, tea plantations, and rivers.

Reinterpreting China’s Urbanization Background

China’s rapid urban expansion has long relied on the xiaoqu model—gated compounds of identical high-rise towers. MORE Architecture’s research into residential typologies identified the shortcomings of this system, including overheated facades, monotony, and the lack of community interaction. Dongshan Island therefore intentionally rejects the gated model, instead becoming an open, permeable neighborhood where residents of all ages can meet, walk, and engage freely.

Architecture Shaped by Landscape

Nature plays a central role in the project. Each building is designed with 360-degree orientation, allowing uninterrupted views and natural light. The architects used a concrete column-and-floor system to provide long-term flexibility; internal walls can be reconfigured as residents’ needs evolve.

Material Expression and Façade Design

• Facades finished with white ceramic tiles featuring subtle curved patterns referencing bamboo
• Balconies framed in warm timber with distinctive curved handrails
• Integrated spaces for mechanical installations to keep facades clean and cohesive
• Limited color palette for timeless simplicity and harmony with the green hills

Adaptable Interior Structures

The structural system allows the apartments to evolve through time, supporting more sustainable, long-lasting residential use.

A Community Designed for All Ages and Lifestyles

At its core, Dongshan Island is a people-first, inclusive community. It provides diverse apartment types suitable for young buyers, families, and seniors. On the ground floors, certain buildings are interconnected to house shared amenities such as a kindergarten, fitness facilities, and common spaces, fostering deeper community bonds.

Healthy Living and Car-Free Urban Design

Healthy living sits at the heart of the master plan. Dongshan Island is completely car-free, encouraging residents to adopt walking or cycling for daily movement. This not only promotes physical well-being but also significantly reduces emissions and improves overall air quality.

Integration with Farming and Local Food Culture

Surrounded by farmland and allotment gardens, the neighborhood reconnects people with food production. Inspired by Agnes Denes’ iconic Wheatfield, the design allows residents to participate in agricultural activities, encouraging healthier eating habits and a grounded relationship with nature.

A Model for Future Sustainable Neighborhoods in China

Dongshan Island stands as a landmark example of how architecture can merge high-density living with environmental harmony, human-scale design, and healthy living principles. It is not just a residential development; it is a vision for the future of Chinese urbanization—balanced, community-driven, and rooted in the landscape.

All photographs are works of Kris Provoost