Tanglang Mountain is located in the central district of Shenzhen and is the highest peak in the district. The Tanglang Mountain Country Park Urban Stand is an important node of the “Mountain and Sea Linking City Plan”, facing the magnificent panoramic view of Shenzhen Bay and the core area of the city.。It is a large park connected to the community for its residents. The new viewing platforms will become a prominent and important leisure spot for the city, and a significant eco-link between the nature and the city.

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The design concept of the two platforms - “Polaris” & “Sunrise-Sunset” is to bring the least disturbance to the precious mountain forest environment, thereby creating a rich and comfortable ecological viewing experience.

Polaris

The “Polaris” aims to provide a decent and light stucture through nature, to elevate the viewing experience through conservation of the nature. With a simple geometry, it penetrates through trees, embraces a view, stretches out to a distant view. It overlaps to provide a rain shelter. It encircles to form a central terrace as the main gathering space. New accessible paths are added to favor all ages and the disabled. It smoothly links up various levels and turns the ascending experience into a playful and memorable spatial experience with nature. It crowns over the Tanglang Mountain in an expressive yet harmonious gesture.

To minimize pollution as this peak, and to maintain a more primitive and pure relationship with nature, the proposal omits provisions of food and beverages as well as bookshops, etc. These facilities are proposed at other locations with existing supporting facilities like toilets, roads, for better sustainability, economic, practical and easy maintenance.

Sunrise-Sunset Pavilion

The Sunrise-Sunset Pavilion is like 2 galleries fronting the picturesque sun-rise and sun-set views gifted to this spot. Rows of columns function as structure, backs to benches, screens, and adds to the layering of space.

The arch shape gives focus and embraces, and clearly defines the 2 arms. The floor of the pavilion is stepped to define circulation and sitting with minimum additional furniture, while minimize visual disturbance among the users. More discrete benches are incorporated for more private sitting or reading, and vending machines for manageable beverage service.

A ramp is added as a short cut to the road on the east, which also ease walking of all ages and the disabled, as well as the transportation of refilling vending machines.

Tree Walk

A new ramp provides disabled access to the Polaris Platform. It shares the same starting plaza with the hundred steps, with supporting facilities like kiosks, toilets, occasional vehicular drop off. The ramp is itself a spectacular path among and over the forest of trees, around the Polaris Platform with changing views. Rest points are provided at intersections to the existing trail, and 2 additional intermediate points, to enable the true enjoyment for all.

The structure of the Tree Walk is a column and beam steel structure, which aims to achieve the least amount of disturbance to the ecological environment.

The lighting design is a light strip hidden at the bottom of the handrail, which emits soft light in the forest, and at the same time avoids the light source shining to people’s sight, to allow the experience of nature at night while minimizing light pollution to the environment.

Node Enhancement

The key points of the node enhancement strategy are:
- Check the density of rest spots and supplies along the road, and increase facilities appropriately.
- Exploit potential space and improve the quality of facilities.
- Add only as necessary, to minimize the disturbance to nature.

Based on the above principles, we propose 3 nodes for upgrade:

The “Entrance Plaza” is visually connected by the gate, trail pavilion and eco-center. Pedestrian and vehicle circulation are separated.

The “Community Pavilion” is where elderly usually returns. Chess, play kits, kiosks and toilet facilities will be provided for all ages.

The ‘Hundred foot step Plaza” is the starting point of the tree walk and the peak. The plaza is enclosed by thematic trees and benches. Semi-sunken outdoor cafe and fire water tank will be provided by utilizing the existing low level platform.

深圳市塘朗山郊野公园城市看台概念设计国际竞赛
https://www.archiposition.com/items/d115910a36

Location : Shenzhen, China
Completion : 2021
Site area : 1,455 sqm (Main platform) + 200 sqm (Secondary platform)
Collaboration : Shenzhen Tunda International Eng. Design Co. Ltd., Eckersley O’Callaghan
Team Member : Ida Sze, Billy Chan, Eunice Tsui, Victor Wong, Luke Yau
Awards : Final Five