Urban competitiveness largely depends on the creation and regeneration of its public space these days, while public space is no longer restricted by simple and functional concept of connectivity, which has evolved into a multi-dimensional and interdisciplinary experience field that can reflect urban life. In this context, “Kaizhou New City International Young Designer Competition” takes ecological environment as the core, with an emphasis on the quality of life, we aim to start a global discussion regarding the core values of public space.

01. Kaizhou New City·Site Overview

Kaizhou New City, located in the east of Deyang City, Sichuan Province, covers two towns which are Jiqing and Xinglong, with administrative area of 200 square kilometers. A starting area of Kaizhou New City is 5.97 square kilometers and the planned construction area will be 49 square kilometers in 2035. The New City is 64 kilometers away from urban area of Chengdu and located within the scope of Chengdu Economic Zone of Ring Highway (SA3). Through Jinjianhuang and Jinjianren expressways, it can reach Tianfu International Airport within 1 hour. The New City is completely placed in concept sequence of “Greater Chengdu” at geographical environment level, which has equipped the hardware basis for coordinated development with Chengdu and defined as the bridgehead for Deyang to be integrated into development axis of Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration.

The Central Park of Kaizhou New City covers a total area of 3,200 mu (2.13 square kilometers). The overall terrain is flat with small hills. Shuanghekou Reservoir is located about 3 kilometers away from the west side. Renmin Canal passes through the site from west to east. Beautiful natural environment has formed its unique scenic landscape.

Renmin Canal in the Central Park belongs to the seventh phase of Renmin Canal Construction Project, which still plays a significant role of water conservancy in irrigating farmland. Renmin Canal was constructed since 1953, with total seven construction phases. After more than 20 years’ construction, it is a large-scale water conservancy project of combined storage, diversion and pumping. It enables water of Minjiang River to irrigate the hilly area at the northern foot of Chengdu Plain through the Dujiang Dam, which has solved the problem for local farmland to be drought of nine years out of ten, improved the grain yield, and doubled the area of national strategic grain reserve base in Chengdu Plain.

02. Kaizhou New City International Young Designer Competition

“Kaizhou New City International Young Designer Competition” is not only an exploration to improve quality of urban public spaces, but also an exploration to find approaches of originality and artistic creativity. Taking the Central Park as the carrier as well as the reserved development plots and Renmin Canal as the design area, it is a good opportunity to rethink and look forward to future of the city from the ecological perspective.

The competition site is Kaizhou New City in Deyang City, Sichuan Province, which contains both regional characteristics and potentials in development. Taking the actual environment of Kaizhou New City as the carrier, it is open to young designers, artists, teachers and students in school, as well as inter-professional and interdisciplinary practitioners (all under 40 years old) specializing on planning, architecture, landscape and art design at home and abroad, aiming to collect creative urban space design schemes and corresponding operation concepts.

The competition encourages participants to select their own angles and conduct spontaneous research within the design scope. The topic and function are self-determined, while it needs to respond to current situation of the site, showing reasonable consideration on the practicability. The entries will be possibly put into operation based on decisions made by local government with specific implementation.