Cherry Blossom Town: A Harmonious Blend of Art and Nature

Golden A' Design Award Winner Hu Sun's Innovative Landscape Planning

The inspiration behind the Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town is rooted in the desire to create a design that is unique to its site. Rejecting the idea of copying the same design system onto different sites, the team at S.P.I adopted a “take root” mentality. This approach prioritizes the site's situation, considering the available materials before making design decisions.

The project's unique properties lie in its respect for the original natural mountain atmosphere and the essence of the orchard. The design features three elements: a pure cherry orchard elevated in the sky, a base of emerging curved textured walls made from local granite boulders, and winding roads covered in cherry blossom petals. These elements create a strong image and blur the boundary between vertical wall and horizontal path, offering an immersive experience of a forest valley.

The design realization technology employed by the team is a testament to their commitment to local resources and traditional craftsmanship. The rough stone, originally from the site, was processed into stone veneer. Local craftsmen used traditional techniques and modern expressions to bring the design to life, creating a space where people and nature coexist harmoniously.

Spanning a total area of 97,000 square meters, with the entrance area covering 15,000 square meters, the project started in 2019 and completed the construction of the entrance and park in 2020 in Rizhao, Qingdao. The design research was centered around the relationship between the landscape and the land, aiming to create a holistic design that breathes and grows together with the earth.

The project faced several challenges, including a steep terrain and bare rock. However, the team managed to soothe the abused mountain and pay their respects to the site. They believed in the inherent spirituality of the site and strived to retain its original spirit to the greatest extent through their design.

The Rizhao Bailuwan Cherry Blossom Town was awarded the Golden A' Landscape Planning and Garden Design Award in 2022. This prestigious award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.