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Wuxi Water City
Can we create a city that thrives like a living landscape?
Wuxi Water City is a bold reimagining of urban life—an ecological hub seamlessly integrated into the Shanghai metropolitan belt. A car-free network of green corridors and waterways shapes the city, where sustainability, culture, and recreation flow together. At its heart lies a vibrant "blue lung," weaving nature into everyday life.
Inspired by European marina cities such as Amsterdam and Venice, the lake extends into the city’s core like outstretched fingers, creating a network of canals that define its identity. A winding waterway organizes the site into four distinct zones—each forming an island with its own unique character. By merging water, greenery, and human-centric design, Wuxi Water City sets a new benchmark for resilient, nature-driven urbanism—where the city doesn’t just grow but flows.
WUX
Project Region
Asia
Project Period
2020
Location
Wuxi, China
Team
Paul Clemens Bart, Marvin Bratke
Status
Concept
Programme
Masterplanning
Client
City of Wuxi
Collaborators
Studio DE
Size
14,4 km²
Water as Identity.
The proximity to a nature reserve is used to create a blue lung that stretches throughout the masterplan, creating a living coast, where cultural functions are intertwined with landscape features offering recreation and sport areas. Like fingers the lake reaches deep into the city’s cores to create channels that were inspired by European marina cities like Amsterdam or Venice. Two main mobility axes connect the recreational centres.
WUX
WUX
Landmarks Guiding the Urban Skyline.
Organized around the blue lung, the landmarks are strategically positioned to anchor each district. Iconic towers at the city’s entrance signal arrival, while cultural and civic hubs along the waterfront serve as orientation points within the larger urban landscape.
Cultural Anchors Along the Waterfront.
The city’s heart is shaped by cultural and civic icons. A floating theatre, exhibition and sports venues, cultural centers, and a science museum form a necklace of destinations along the waterfront. These landmarks bring vibrancy, attract visitors, and enrich everyday urban life.
WUX
WUX
Living with Nature.
The city is defined by its ecological framework. Lush greenery along the lake, abundant birdlife, and carefully designed bridges structure vibrant neighborhoods. The masterplan integrates the existing nature into urban development, ensuring that ecological features are not only preserved but actively shape public spaces and architectural interventions. The skyline provides a cohesive backdrop, reinforcing the human-scaled, green urban environment envisioned throughout the masterplan.