When it comes to 3D rendering, creating a realistic and immersive landscape is an important aspect of the process. A landscape can set the mood of a scene, convey emotion, and make the viewer feel as if they are truly present in a virtual world. However, achieving this level of realism can be challenging. No matter you’re a landscape architect or 3D artist, as long as you’re thinking about bringing the design to life, landscape rendering is an inevitable topic. In this article, we’ll explore what landscaping is, why it is important for 3D rendering, and provide tips on how to make landscape renders feel alive.
What is Landscaping?
Landscaping is the process of designing and creating a visually appealing outdoor space. This includes natural elements such as trees, shrubs, mountains, lakes and coastlines, as well as man-made structures such as buildings, roads, and pathways. The concept of landscape is important in various fields such as architecture, urban planning, geography, and ecology, as it helps to shape our understanding of the natural and built environments and our relationship with them. A landscape architect is a professional who is in charge of the above job.
Landscaping in 3D Rendering
In 3D rendering, landscaping is essential to creating a believable and immersive environment. A well-designed landscape can add depth and complexity to a scene, making it feel more realistic and engaging. Landscaping can also be used to convey specific moods or emotions. For example, a lush, green landscape can create a calming and relaxing atmosphere, while a barren, rocky terrain can evoke a sense of danger or desolation.
In addition to creating a realistic environment, landscaping is also important for creating a sense of scale and perspective. The size and placement of objects in a scene can influence the viewer’s perception of depth and distance, making it crucial to get the landscaping right in order to create a believable environment.
Tips for Making Landscape Renders Feel Alive
Now that we understand the importance of landscaping in 3D rendering, let’s explore some tips for making landscape renders feel alive.
Use Dynamic Lighting
One of the most important aspects of creating a believable landscape is lighting. The right lighting can make a huge difference in how a landscape feels. For example, natural sunlight can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while harsh lighting can create a sense of danger or tension.
To create dynamic lighting, experiment with different types of lighting such as natural sunlight, soft shadows, and harsh lighting. Additionally, consider adding volumetric lighting to your scene to give it a more atmospheric look. This can be achieved by using a fog or mist effect to simulate the way that light scatters in the atmosphere.
Incorporate Movement
Adding movement to your landscape can make it feel more alive and dynamic. This can be achieved by adding elements such as trees swaying in the wind, water flowing in a river, or clouds moving across the sky. Using particle systems can also add a sense of movement to your scene, such as leaves falling from trees or dust blowing in the wind.
When adding movement to your landscape, it’s important to keep it subtle and realistic. Adding too much movement can make a scene feel chaotic and distracting.
Add Detail and Texture
Adding realistic textures to your landscape can make it feel more alive and believable. Use high-quality textures for elements such as rocks, grass, and trees. Additionally, adding small details such as fallen leaves, pebbles, or debris can make a big difference in the overall look of your scene.
When adding textures, it’s important to pay attention to the scale and placement of objects in your scene. For example, rocks and boulders should be scaled appropriately to the size of the surrounding environment, and grass should be placed in a natural pattern to avoid looking too uniform.
Use Color Theory
Colors can play a significant role in the mood of your landscape. Use warm colors such as oranges and yellows for a sunny and inviting scene, or cool colors such as blues and purples for a more calming and serene atmosphere.
Additionally, consider using complementary colors to create contrast and interest in your scene. For example, a blue sky can be complemented with orange or yellow foliage to create a striking contrast.
Maintain a Large Library
What is the quickest way to create a real-life scene? The answer is absolutely to have a large content library. A complete library of nature assets allows you to instantly use the objects to create lifelike landscape. What you need to do is to simply find and add the ready-to-use model from the library.
Also, to have a large library increases flexibility during the 3D rendering process. This particularly means you are able to experiment with different options and make adjustments as needed.
Pay Attention to Scale and Proportion
To create a believable landscape, it’s important to pay attention to scale and proportion. This means ensuring that the size and placement of objects in your scene are realistic and consistent with real-world environments.
For example, trees should be scaled appropriately to the size of the surrounding environment, and hills and mountains should be scaled to create a sense of depth and perspective. Additionally, pay attention to the placement of objects in your scene. For example, rocks and boulders should be placed in a natural pattern to avoid looking too uniform.
Use Environmental Effects
Environmental effects such as fog, haze, and atmospheric distortion can add a sense of depth and atmosphere to your landscape. These effects can be used to create a more realistic and immersive environment, especially when combined with dynamic lighting and movement.
When using environmental effects, it’s important to keep them subtle and realistic. Overuse of effects can make a scene feel artificial and distracting.
Consider the Story of Your Landscape
Finally, when creating a landscape, consider the story that you want to tell. What is the purpose of the landscape in your scene? Is it a peaceful retreat, a dangerous wilderness, or a bustling cityscape?
By considering the story of your landscape, you can create a more immersive and engaging environment that adds depth and meaning to your scene.
Conclusion
In summary, creating a believable and immersive landscape is essential to creating a successful 3D render. By using dynamic lighting, movement, texture, color theory, scale and proportion, environmental effects, and storytelling, you can create a landscape that feels alive and engaging. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating stunning and realistic landscape renders that captivate and inspire.
Having difficulties creating realistic landscape renders? Looking for realistic 3D landscape renders for your project? Consult our project manager now, and our photorealistic 3D rendering services will take your project to next level!
“The smell of books is overflowing，The mountains and the sea are connected by stars”——The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Quality Campus Launch Scheme has now begun. The Official announcement of the new construction of 9-year school in Songgang Commercial Center urban renewal unit of Songgang Subdistrict is hereby issued.
Project Name ：Whole process design for the new construction of 9-year school in Songgang Commercial Center urban renewal unit of Songgang Subdistrict
Pre-Qualification Application Submission
Submission Deadline：UTC+8 17:00, March 13, 2023 (Tentative)Submission (Mailing) Address：Service Hall at NO. 40 Hubin East Road of Bao’an District of Shenzhen, Business Hall of Shenzhen Trading Group Co., Ltd Bao’an Branch.
Tenderee: Bureau of Public Works of Bao’an District, Shenzhen
Education concerns the interests of the State and the Party. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China puts “implementing the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education and strengthening the support of talents for modernization” in a more important position, highlighting the basic, leading, and overall status and role of education in the new era. The Bao’an District Party Committee and Government always adhere to the “first strategy” of giving priority to the development of education, and spare no effort to provide education that satisfies the people, providing strong support for the realization of “good nursing for kids, good education for students” and assistance for urban development, further strengthening citizens’ sense of gain and happiness for high-quality and balanced education, and further improving the influence and demonstration of Bao’an Education.
The new construction of 9-year school in Songgang Commercial Center urban renewal unit of Songgang Subdistrict is located in Songgang Subdistrict, Bao’an District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, at the intersection of Songyuan Road and Songhe North Road. The Songgang Area where the project is located will become an important area of the western center of Shenzhen. According to relevant plans, the western center will become a comprehensive city center with Cantonese characteristics suitable for business and living, with perfect public service system, intertwined blue and green public spaces, and prominent historical and cultural heritage in the future. With the goal of “making education become the core competitiveness of Bao’an District”, Bao’an District Government implements the education development plan as the direction, and taking “safety, stability, development, and improvement” as the guidance to fully promote the construction of educational facilities in Songgang Area.
The project hopes to select the best among the excellent school design schemes through open and fair design bidding, which can not only implement the educational development concept of Bao’an District, but also integrate and coexist with the surrounding urban environment and face the future. After the project is completed and put into use in the future, it will help to further improve the basic education facilities in Bao’an District, alleviate the pressure on school admission quotas in the district, and lay a foundation for talent cultivation and social development.
Project Overview
The project is located in Songgang Subdistrict, Bao’an District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. Songgang Subdistrict is one of the 10 Subdistricts under the jurisdiction of Bao’an District, and it is the core area of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is adjacent to the Pearl River Estuary in the west, Dongguan City in the north, and Guangming District in the northeast.
Project Site and Scope
The 9-year school in Songgang Commercial Center urban renewal unit of Songgang Subdistrict is located in the core area of Songgang Subdistrict, at the intersection of Songyuan Road (current) and Songhe North Road, and is part of the Songgang Commercial Center urban renewal unit. The northern and eastern sides of the site are urban villages and commercial buildings to be demolished, which are undemolished buildings in the urban renewal area. The western side is adjacent to the residential area (Jinghu Jiayuan), and the southern side is adjacent to the Songgang River.
Aerial Photography of the Current Situation of the Site (Southwest Perspective)
The New construction of 9-year school in Songgang Commercial Center urban renewal unit of Songgang Subdistrict has a proposed total land area of 24,439.88 square meters and a total construction area of 63,000 square meters，with a school scale of 54classes and 2520 students. The main construction scope includes: ①Mandatory School Buildings (including Teaching and auxiliary rooms buildings, office rooms, living service rooms); ② Optional School Buildings (including micro classroom, corridor with roof, open floor, underground garage and equipment spaces etc.) ③Teaching staff dormitory; ④ Synchronized Construction Works for Out-door Ancillary Facilities. ⑤ Outdoor emergency congregate shelter and indoor emergency congregate shelter, etc.
Tender Content
The scope of tender for this Project include but not limited to : scheme design, initial design and budget estimation preparation, green building design consultation, prefabricated building design, sponge city design, utilization of construction wastes and recycled materials, water and soil conservation scheme design, assisting in estimation for preparing feasibility study, design for building information modeling (BIM), construction drawing design, as-built drawing preparation, information collection, construction application and approval assistance, and relevant design services such as on-site construction cooperation. Must take the responsibilities for repeated modification works raised due to failed in acquiring the approval from the owner or government authorities, and other relevant works instructed by the employer.
Capital Source
The project is funded by 100% government investment.
Tender Process
The project adopts open tendering (prequalified tendering), including Stage 1 Prequalification, Stage 2 Design Competition and Stage 3 Final Evaluation. The conceptual proposal in the first stage of prequalification and the bidding scheme designing the second stage of scheme bidding shall be in the form of sealed bid.
Application Requirements
The bidder applicant must be an independent legal person or partnership or other organization
Applicants must be class-A qualification/certificate in Chinese architecture design and construction industry (Construction Engineering).
Project leader is required to be Grade One registered architect in China. For consortium, project leader must be staff from the leading member.
This project accepts consortium bidding, and the bidding partners in the consortium must meet the following requirements:
If bidding by a consortium, the leading member must be class-A qualification/certificate or above in architecture design and construction industry (Construction Engineering).
One consortium shall include no more than 2 members (including the leading member).
Members of the consortium may not register individually or as part of another consortium.
The consortium partners must sign a Consortium Agreement and clarify the head unit, division of labor between the two parties in each design stage, and design cost allocation ratio, distribution method, and other aspects.
Individual or teams of individuals will not be accepted.
Design Fee & Compensation
The fixed lump sum shall be CNY 11.874 million (about US$1,712,000) (tentative price for design cost).
The project offers compensation. The compensation standard is set as follows: No compensation for bid winner who will be issued with contract; CNY 220,000 (about US$31,700) for the bidders ranked No. 2 and 3 who entered the final evaluation stage but not the bid winner; CNY 100,000 (about US$14,400) for the bidders ranked No. 4, 5, 6 and 7 who confirmed as the formal bidders but failed to the final evaluation stage; and no compensation for the rests. The total compensation of CNY 840,000 (tax inclusive) (about US$121,000) shall be paid to unsuccessful bidders by the tenderee.
Winner
Award of contract
The bidders ranked No.2 and 3
RMB 220,000 (about US$31,700) each
The bidders ranked No.4, 5, 6 and 7
RMB 100,000 (about US$14,420) each
Tender Schedule
Stage
Date
Item
Registration and Pre-qualification
2023.02.27-03.13
27th Feb—13th Mar 2023
Issue pre-qualification announcement and
accept registration
7th Mar 2023（before 17:00）
Query deadline
10th Mar 2023（before 17:00）
Clarification, amendment and answering period deadline
13th Mar 2023（before 17:00）
Deadline of pre-qualification application document submission
21st -24th Mar 2023
Pre-qualification review & result notice
22nd Mar -4th Apr 2023
Shortlisted bidders submit original version of stamped Tender Participation Confirmation (e-signature & stamping accepted)
Design Competition Phase
22nd Mar 2023（Tentative）
Release official tender document and design Brief
3rd Apr 2023（Tentative）
Survey and Q&A session (meeting form to be notified separately)
25th Apr 2023（Tentative）
Query deadline
28th Apr 2023（Tentatively）
Clarification, amendment and answering period deadline
5th May 2023 （before 17:00）（Tentative）
Design deliverables submission deadline
8th May 2023（Tentative）
Scheme review (sealed bid)
Final Evaluation Phase
undetermined
Final evaluation
Winning result announcement
Note: All the time mentioned above is Beijing time UCT+8. The Tenderee reserves the right to adjust the schedule.
The announcement is published on AIMIR’s website now. If you want to know more following details regarding to this competition, please feel free to contact AIMIR. What’s more, you’re more than welcome to touch base with us if you need architectural visualization.
As we all know, landscaping rendering plays a significant role in architectural projects, achieving the visualization of concepts and designs from some complex landscape drawings. This is because landscaping is the vital part in architecture to improve human and environmental health. And it’s also the key to the consistency and harmony in a 3D render scene. Today, in this article, we will explain what landscape rendering is and recommend the best programs to use for it. Hope it helps both landscape designers and homeowners who are thinking about improve your garden.
What is Landscaping Rendering
To start with, landscaping rendering refers to creating photorealistic 3D images of views including buildings, plants, paths, swimming pools, fences, and other components. All of these can be displayed in a compelling and expressive way for perception. You can see the realistic future landscape in detail or have a tour of the whole, so any errors and shortcomings can be identified and amended in advance. Moreover, with the help of an animation, you can look at the view at different times of a day and angles, and even see the changes of plants. Thus, your clients are close to the project and are able to put forward some suggestions for improvement. From this vantage point, during the communication between clients and designers, it’s more likely to strike a balance between imagination and feasibility and then complete the project in a quite efficient manner.
2D vs. 3D Landscape Rendering
Landscaping designs also apply 2D visualization in addition to 3D rendering. Two-dimension visualization boasts a high level of correspondence between the sketch and the final result. It also features a low price fast speed and easy implementation. As for 3D landscape rendering, it’s distinguished by realism. The landscape design can be evaluated in detail or as a whole in real time. For sure, it requires more technology and great work.
How to Render a Landscape Plan
Here, we’ve listed the basic steps of landscape design rendering process:
#Step 1: Modeling. That is to create a model of the landscape, like a garden, and objects on it. It includes the architecture as well as plants, paths, mountains, seas, ponds, and many other possible objects.
#Step 2: Texturing. In this process, all textures and materials should be applied for the purpose of photo-realistic effect.
#Step 3: Lighting Setup. No matter it’s natural or artificial, 3D artists configure virtual lighting based on the scene. For example, the time of the day, the weather, and the season give different judgement of the setting lighting procedure.
#Step 4: Rendering. For both still images and animation, the landscape is converted into a realistic scene during this stage.
Price: Free for personal use and educational training
OS: Windows, macOS
SketchUp has a wide range of applications in architecture, interior and industrial design, as well as landscaping for sure. As a hugely popular 3D software, it is compared to a pencil of electronic design because its main selling point is easy to use, and it is indeed. Thus, in addition to professionals, it’s also suitable for amateurs and beginners. By importing 3D models, 2D CAD files, and aerial photographs, you can start your architecture landscape rendering design. It comes with a component library of a large number of items like doors and plants, and a material library of building texture, with which you are able to customize your project. If you would like to get started with landscaping rendering, SketchUp is definitely a great choice.
As its name implies, PRO Landscape Design Software is a site plan and decoration application tailored for landscaping. It’s easy to use but professional, so it’s suitable for both amateurs and professionals. The best landscape architecture rendering software includes photo imaging, CAD, 3D rendering, and lighting design. Moreover, it also boasts over 18,000 landscape design objects ranging from garden buildings to plants for various climatic zones. Another advantage is that it allows you to design on iPad or Android tablet and even to transfer designs back and forth between your tablet and computer with ease. It won’t disappoint you if you choose it for landscaping rendering.
Serving as a powerful visualization plugin, Enscape can be 100% integrated into some excellent design tools, like SketchUp, Autodesk Revit, and Rhinoceros. With the help of this landscape rendering software, you are able to explore concepts in real time, evaluate ideas quickly and ideate beforehand. Meanwhile, this program offers a library of more than 2,400 objects in total, including over 500 kinds of vegetation items alone, which is conducive to the envisioning and design. Last but not least to mention that it speeds up ray-tracing calculations to create stunning lighting and reflection effects. Moreover, it expedites the rendering of more complex geometries and environments. After finishing rendering, you are free to share the visualization just with QR codes.
Lumion is a real-time 3D visualization tool, involving landscapes, city planning, interiors, and so on. With so many various objects and items in the library, it empowers you to create your design without limitations. It works well in realizing the real-time observation of the scene effect, fast drawing speed, realistic water scenery, and lifelike trees. And the post effect is quite easy to make. All of these make the software a very good advantage in the rapid output of landscape and architectural animation. Thus, this landscaping architect software is one of the professionals’ favorites.
VizTerra aims at creating 3D landscape designs. It features a streamlined interface, intuitive tools, and plentiful options. It enables users to draw in 2D and to see 2D become 3D in just one click. And then all of your ideas and designs will be displayed in a photo-realistic and vivid way. The best program for landscaping rendering has a free trial, so if you are interested in it, then go ahead and have a try.
Many people who are familiar with landscaping rendering may know about this free software, Cedreo. In addition to other functions, it also offers outstanding landscape rendering capabilities. The platform is completely cloud-based, so it’s convenient for you to discuss with others and edit designs and proposals instantly. This professional landscape architecture program allows the creation of 2D drawings with an extensive library and transforms them into 3D views. Furthermore, you can view the works in real time by switching between these two models. So, this software is also a good choice.
Revit
Price: Free trial, or $2,545/year
OS: Windows
Revit, a suite of software from Autodesk, is specifically built for Building Information Modeling (BIM). Although it’s mainly developed especially architectural projects, it also performs well in landscape design. Supported by powerful technology, it captures the photo-realistic state of the landscape. It is easy to use and to produces high-quality renderings in less time, providing you with superior design work. Professionals would love to use this software for landscape rendering.
When you use Realtime Landscaping Architect to create your design, the 2D and 3D views are updated automatically, which is convenient to check your work. It has an extensive library of objects and decoration items, so you can add plants, fencing, swimming pools, spas, water features, and much more into your design with the help of this best rendering program for architecture landscape. Even you can design irrigation systems and use the plant growth tool to visualize what the landscape will look like in the future. There are other functions waiting for your exploration. You can get a trial and have a try.
SmartDraw is a free landscape design software for professionals. Thanks to quick-start templates, you can get start quickly with your design. It empowers you to seamlessly integrate with the tools you already use, like Microsoft Office, and share files. During the design, many decoration items are available, such as grill areas, paths, picnic tables and fountains. Also, the lighting is adjustable for checking. If you are intrigued, give it a try.
The last one in the recommended list is Punch Home Design, which is suitable for professionals. You are free to make amazing landscaping and outdoor living plans by using any modules, textures and objects. This landscape architecture tool is easy to check the view and then adjust lighting and any other elements, which is conducive to the refinement of the whole project. Just uses your imagination and start creation.
Conclusion
With the help of professional landscape architecture rendering software, now the clients are able to have a holistic and accurate view of the design. As an integral part of landscaping design development process, 3D visualization and site plans are perfect tools to convey and present ideas and visions. We hope this article has provided explicit explanation of architecture landscape rendering, and the best free software and platforms.
In order to further build a beautiful China, the CPC Zhejiang Committee and Zhejiang Provincial Government issued the Decision on Building a Beautiful Zhejiang to Create a Better Life and Opinions of the General Office of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province on Accelerating the Building of Modern and Beautiful Counties in 2014, defining a new urbanization path of “people first, synergistic development of four modernizations, optimized layout, ecological civilization, and cultural heritage,” and proposing goals such as building a pilot area of the Beautiful China initiative and a role model of Jiangnan water towns, and reflecting the charm of “poetic and picturesque Jiangnan,” etc. In doing so, we aim at building modern and beautiful counties with Jiangnan features and Zhejiang characteristics, and realize the beauty of green ecological environment, planning and design morphology, complete facilities and functions, suitability for living and working, and social stability and harmony.
Location map of city clusters in central Zhejiang
Under the context of regional coordinated development, Dongyang should rely on its transportation road network that matures gradually, actively integrate into the regional economic network dominated by Jinyi Metropolitan Area, strive for greater platform development opportunities, and build a new fulcrum for the integrated development of the metropolitan area. Giving play to its advantages of industrial manufacturing, famous historical city, leisure tourism, etc., it will bring historic opportunities for the same-city development, mutually complementary advantages, and economic synergy of the metropolitan area between Dongyang and Yiwu.
Spatial structure map of Jinyi City
In order to enhance the scientific and reasonable territorial space planning of Dongyang City, effectively guide the urban development of Dongyang City, lead the future urban construction, and realize the preparation requirements of “operable, experiential and supervised urban design”, the CPC Dongyang Municipal Committee and Dongyang government put forward the overall regional planning of overall urban design. In combination with the demarcation results of three districts and three lines issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the six streets in the downtown area are determined as the planning range, and the scheme solicitation event of Overall Urban Design Integration and Enhancement and Downtown Area Detailed Urban Design of Dongyang City is specifically held.
Project location
Located in the middle of Zhejiang Province, Dongyang City is a provincial-level famous historical and cultural city, one of the national Top 100 countywide economy cities, a national health city and a national garden city. “Three mountains embrace two basins, and two basins encompass two rivers” is the truest portrayal of Dongyang City’s landform. As a thousand-year-old town with a history of 1,800 years so far, known as “a prosperous county of Wu” and “a county with picturesque mountains and waters”, Dongyang boasts enriched historical and cultural heritage and is renowned as “the key magnet of education, architecture and arts and crafts” as well as reputed for its film & television culture. The ecological environment of the downtown area is sound, with the elements of mountain, river, stream, farmland and city reinforcing each other, depicting the most beautiful living environment of Dongyang.
Topographic features of Dongyang City
Spatial development structure diagram of Dongyang City
A local bird’s-eye view of Dongyang City
Solicitation methods and schedule
The solicitation event is divided into four stages:
Stage I-Qualification review stage: The applicants should submit application materials and conceptual proposal in time as required. The Host will select ten shortlisted application units from publicly applying design agencies (consortiums) through pre-qualification (including conceptual proposal) for Stage II.
Stage II-Conceptual scheme stage of overall urban design integration and enhancement: Shortlisted application units will, in accordance with requirements of the Design Brief, submit qualified deliverables to be reviewed by the expert review jury. The top five application units (without ranking) will enter Stage III.
Stage III – Conceptual scheme stage of downtown area key areas detailed urban design: The five shortlisted application units will submit the satisfactorily design deliverables according to the key areas (area and work content to be determined) determined by the host，The scheme review jury will review the submitted schemes, select the top three (ranked) by voting and recommend them to the Host with optimization review opinions put forward.
After full discussion between the Host and the scheme review experts, the ranking of the top three winners will be determined. The first-ranking application unit will be awarded with the development design consulting contract of the Project, and the other application units will be paid the corresponding design compensation.
Stage IV – The selected unit will subsequently undertake the downtown area detailed urban design.
Application requirements
The solicitation plans to adopt open application without qualification restrictions. Units with relevant design experience from home and abroad may apply for participation. Application units should be independent legal person enterprises or institutions legally registered at home and abroad with valid business licenses or business registration certificates.
Consortium with no more than three members are allowed to apply. All consortium parties must not participate in the solicitation event in their own names separately or form a consortium with other units.
The solicitation event doesn’t accept application of individuals and individual groups.
Teams with similar design experience will be prioritized:
With international or domestic urban planning and design practice experience;
With research capability and practical experience in detailed urban design of key urban areas;
With rich experience in architecture, landscape, ecological design and public environment construction.
Solicitation schedule (tentative)
Kick off the solicitation event and release the official solicitation announcement in the middle of January 2023.
Release the announcement of pre-qualification results in the early February 2023.
Submit deliverables of Stage II (conceptual scheme of overall urban design integration and enhancement) and convene scheme review jury in the middle of March.
Submit deliverables of Stage III (conceptual scheme of key areas detailed urban design), convene scheme review jury, and determine the selected unit in the middle of May.
Declare the downtown area detailed urban design report at the end of October 2023.
Design scope
Overall urban integration and enhancement design scope: The holistic area of the downtown area (including the ten-thousand-mu and hundred-billion-yuan master plan scope, the master plan scope of the High-Speed Railway New Town and Chengdong Street), with an area of about 177 square kilometers.
Overall urban integration and enhancement design scope
Downtown area detailed urban design scope: The scope of downtown area is from the junction between Dongyang and Yiwu to Zhanqian Road of Jinhua-Ningbo Railway, from Nanshan Mountain to Beishan Mountain (including Shanglu Block and Civic Center Block), with an area of about 84 square kilometers.
Downtown area detailed urban design scope
Work objectives
Nowadays, because of industrialization-driven urbanization and rapid economic growth, the construction framework of Dongyang downtown area is quickly expanding and has been facing some bottlenecks, such as vague spatial mode of landscape city and gradual inundation of urban culture; urban functional section is loose and not compact enough; urban image and style are inferior and lack of iconic urban business cards; the construction of urban industrial platform is poor with implicit space of three industries; the areas along the Dongyang River only focus on the construction of the landscape belt but lack an overall landscape coordination of the two banks of one river, and the vitality needs to be improved, etc. All these problems are constraining the further improvement of the overall quality of Dongyang City.
The solicitation should be based on the three districts and three lines initially demarcated in the City’s current land spatial planning scheme, and focus on solving, but not limited to, the aforementioned problems. Through problem sort-out, target positioning, strategy formulation, action plan, project library and economic estimation, it will provide the orientation for Dongyang’s future urban development and guidelines for statutory plan revision, urban renewal and near-term development and construction.
Work content
With the evolving regional environment and the pressing urban development in all aspects, Dongyang has unfolded plenty of planning work on the urban development and blueprint conception in recent years. The core content of the solicitation event is to comprehensively coordinate with the relevant plannings in Dongyang City, draw effective and feasible parts on the basis of systematic sort-out and summarization. In combination with the new regional development situation and the actual local demands, a more consensual overall urban design development orientation, target strategy, layout structure and spatial morphology will be formed. To be implemented and operated by the operational capacity of the management authorities, the solicitation event will effectively lead the coordinated advancement of future urban development and construction and various management work of Dongyang downtown area.
Deliverables requirements
Stage I-Qualification review stage
Conceptual proposal should be submitted during the qualification review stage, with the following contents:
Interpret the urban characteristics and spatial problems of Dongyang, and sort out the key focuses and difficulties of this competition;
Analyze specific problems, put forward the urban design strategy and objectives, and establish the overall urban design framework;
Put forward recommendations on the implementation and actual management of urban design based on the demonstration of urban design practice cases;
Put forward recommendations on the design conditions, materials and design requirements of the solicitation.
Stage II- Conceptual scheme stage of overall urban design integration and enhancement
Text of Planning Study Report
Review boards
Multimedia presentation documents or presentation (PPT/PDF format)
Electronic files with afore-mentioned contents (flash stick)
Stage III-Conceptual scheme stage of downtown area detailed urban design
Text of Planning Study Report
Review boards
Multimedia presentation documents
Presentation document (PPT/PDF format)
Relevant digital design documents
Electronic files with afore-mentioned contents (flash stick)
All solicitation information is subject to the official solicitation documents of the Project.
Organizing institutions
Host: Dongyang Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources
The announcement is published on AIMIR’s website now. If you want to know more following details regarding to this competition, please feel free to contact AIMIR. What’s more, you’re more than welcome to touch base with us if you need architectural visualization.
The International Competition on Urban Design of Longhua International Business District on Renmin Road in Longhua District of Shenzhen is to be launched soon. The project is now open to design teams from all over the world for an early sign-up and registration of intent.
One. Overview
The present international competition aims at drawing on collective wisdom and absorbing all useful ideas from both domestic and international excellent designing institutions for prospective, creative and operable urban designs. With Shenzhen’s mission of building a demonstrative pilot zone of socialism with Chinese characteristics as the foundation as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as the vision, it is expected that the construction of an international city of consumption center should be planned from a high point, so that Longhua International Business District can be built to become “the first choice of consumers in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area” with diversified urban functions that are integrated with commercial services, innovative creation, scientific and technological services, and life of good quality.
Two. Location
The Longhua International Business District is one of the six key- areas in Longhua District. It is located in the core part and central development axis of Shenzhen City, stretching itself into three subdistricts of Longhua, Minzhi and Dalang whilst being adjacent to the Shenzhen North Station International Business Zone in the south. Longhua Foxconn and Banxuegang Technology City are located in the northeastern direction and Yangtaishan Forest Park is located in the west. Bao’an International Airport is just one-hour drive away, and Shenzhen North Railway Station is within 10 minutes’ drive and Futian Central is just 30 minutes away. Therefore, the traffic both outbound and inbound is of great convenience.
The Longhua International Business District is the core section to improve the comprehensive service capabilities of the central development axis. On one aspect, the District has the function of perfecting Longhua’s own implementing system whilst enhancing the quality of life there. On the other aspect, with the North Railway Station Hub as the base, the exposure range of the business is expanded in the District which provides Longhua with a space of commercial complex that is widely-open, handy, ecological, and vibrant.
△Sketch Map of the Central Development Axis of Shenzhen City
△ Sketch Map of the Central Service Axis of Longhua District
△ Sketch Map of the Project Location
Work Content
Three. The Work Contents for the Present Competition
The present international competition consists of two levels, namely the scope of urban design and the scope of conceptual architecture design . The former covers an occupation of approximately 325 hectares, including the range of Donghuan First Road, Longhua Avenue, Industry Road, Longsheng Road and Park Road (refer to the white scope line on map below). Among those, there are three key projects for conceptual architecture designs, namely the project of Longhua Business Center, the project of Longhua Third Industrial Zone as well as the intended shanty-area renovation project of the Core Zone.
The present international competition aims at recruiting creative plans for sectional major landmark building complex with business and office functions under the general framework of the urban design of the Renmin Road Business Center. It is required that the participating entities should make a proposal of the orientation of the industries and functions for future development, based upon the comprehensive analyses of the sectional development whilst pushing forward the concept of urban design and performing the work of design in terms of functional layout, traffic, public space, key architecture formats etc.
△ Sketch Map of the Site
1.The Phase of Urban Design
In accordance with the structural framework of Longhua International Business District, composition of functions as well as future-oriented spatial structure concepts and measures are required to be proposed. For the completion of the comprehensive conceptual urban design, focus shall be placed upon the design administration and control, the aboveground and underground space shaping and traffic organization of the four important axis lines of “the two- horizontal and the two -longitudinal” (namely Longhua Renmin Road, Longhua Heping Road, Industrial Road and Jinglong Construction Road), as well as the relationship between the District and different public open spaces, like the Guanlan River, etc.
△ The Two-horizontal and the Two-longitudinal
2.The Phase of Conceptual Architecture Design
The project implementation shall be on key focus. With the requirements raised by the host combined, the local policies and standards as well as the operability and economic costs of the project construction shall be taken into sufficient consideration. In the meanwhile, the plans for the three key projects (with a site occupation of about 75 hectares and a total floorage of about 3.66 million m2), namely of the Longhua Business Center, Longhua Third Industrial Zone and the intended shanty-area renovation project of the Core Zone, are requested to reach the depth of conceptual architecture design, and be operable.
△ Sketch Map of Scope of Longhua Business Center
△ Sketch Map of Scope of Longhua Third Industrial Zone
△ Sketch Map of the Scope of intended shanty-area renovation project of the Core Zone
Registration Requirements
Four. Eligibility Requirements
The applicants shall be either enterprises with an independent legal person or institutions registered either in China or abroad. Foreign companies shall submit entries jointly with domestic enterprises with an independent legal person. No qualifications are required for the present competition.
Consortium shall be accepted for the participation with no limitation in member numbers. No consortium members shall have the right to participate in the competition again alone or with another consortium by another name. The consortium members shall be requested to sign a Consortium Agreement with force of law whilst specifying the leading entity and individual labor division.
No individual participant or individually-combined group will be accepted for the sign-up.
It is encouraged that the design team shall consist of professionals from multiple fields, including urban planning and design, architecture and landscape design, transportation consultation and industrial planning etc.
The participating designers for the present international competition shall be the registered personnel of the participating institution. The designer-in-chief shall have the skill of presiding over several projects of the same category as well as past relevant experience for at least 5 years. In addition, the designer-in-chief shall be directly involved with the whole designing process, including the site survey, reviewing and Q&A as well as the final presentation. It is required that at least one of the participating designers shall have the knowledge of the Chinese language, so the designers shall be ensured to have an accurate understanding of the regional background of China and relevant requirements.
Design institutions (or consortium) with following project experience shall be given the prioritized consideration for further qualification : Practical and successful experience of key projects of urban design domestically or internationally.; Experience of business center planning and architecture design. Rich experience in urban design of comprehensive transportation hub areas.
WORK RULES
Five. Competition Modes
The mode of “open entry submission + invitation” is adopted for the present international competition, which consists of three phases, namely the pre-qualification , the urban design and conceptual architecture design, as well as the integration and further development of the accomplishments.
The Phase of Pre-qualification: The host shall send out letters of invitation to the invited entities and select three shortlisted teams. The other three shortlisted teams shall be well selected from the design entities (or consortium) registered through public entries. In the meanwhile, there shall be two alternative teams based on the order.
The Phase of Urban Design and Conceptual Architecture Design: After six design institutions (or consortium) submit valid documents of accomplishments, the host shall establish a judge panel in accordance with laws and conduct the evaluation of participating plans..
The Phase of Integration and Further Development of the Accomplishments: The winning designing institution (or consortium) of the first prize shall be allowed to carry out the integration of the urban design plans and the deepening of architecture design, and their plan shall be put into implementation for the present project. Normally, the winner(s) shall be able to complete the further development work of the prized plan. In case the winning team gives up the integration work, the host shall have the right to entrust other design teams to take over the subsequent work. The winning team shall take the responsibility of assisting the other designing entities with the integration and further development in this phase whilst providing technological support services for the host.
Prizes
Six. Competition Bonus
The total amount of bonus for the present international competition is 14.77 million CNY (about US$2,288,555). The specific arrangement shall be subject to the officially released announcement.
Seven. Pre-sign-up Registration
The official announcement of the present competition shall be released soon. Designing teams home and abroad are welcomed to pre-register for the competition. Interested entities shall download the attachment 1 Pre-registration sign-up form – The International Competition On Urban Design of Longhua International Business District on Renmin Road, fill the blanks and send it to the e-mail address: u_designintl@163.com.
Eight. Special Notes
Pre sign-up forms shall NOT be used as the official entry application. All information involved with the present pre-announcement shall be subject to the official announcement that is to be released later.
The announcement is published on AIMIR’s website now. If you want to know more following details regarding to this competition, please feel free to contact AIMIR. What’s more, you’re more than welcome to touch base with us if you need architectural visualization.
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△Sketch Map of the Central Development Axis of Shenzhen City
△ Sketch Map of the Central Service Axis of Longhua District
△ Sketch Map of the Project Location
△ Sketch Map of the Site
△ The Two-horizontal and the Two-longitudinal
△ Sketch Map of Scope of Longhua Business Center
△ Sketch Map of Scope of Longhua Third Industrial Zone
△ Sketch Map of the Scope of intended shanty-area renovation project of the Core Zone