Beyond the Edge: Water + Urbanism in Wuhan, China

Pavel Petrov, Andy Wilcox

Pavel Petrov, Mar 20, 2018 - 170 pages

SWA¿s work is fueled by a deep appreciation for nature and for the beauty of natural systems. Inspired by the complexity of human-made systems and the interactions they influence, these projects have become recognized for their visionary aesthetics, exceptional functionality, and keen understanding of social design, as well as their emphasis on environmental sustainability. At SWA¿s core is a passion for imaginative, solution-oriented design that adds value to land, buildings, cities, regions, and people¿s lives. Successful urban design encompasses the infrastructure of an urban environment, synthesizing buildings, streets, corridors, and natural systems into a cohesive, fully functional, and aesthetically unified whole. SWA has designed new cities, districts, neighborhoods and waterfronts, as well as the specific components of urban environments, including plazas, parks, promenades, and urban streetscapes. As designers with a sophisticated understanding of the urban landscape, we are particularly adept at integrating nature into cities using the available resources as the foundation and framework from which livable, high-density environments can flourish. SWA¿s international reputation in urban planning and design has evolved from our history of successful projects. SWA is pleased to partner with Cal Poly Pomona¿s Department of Landscape Architecture for the 5th consecutive year in order to explore significant water + urbanism possibilities in Wuhan, China. This urban design studio project has tremendous commercial, cultural, and environmental potential, which creates the perfect laboratory for students to test ideas within the urban context through various planning and design approaches. The overarching goal of this course is to empower students with an expanded personal knowledge base, further develop and expand skill sets and provide an opportunity to examine deeper personal values of design.

About the author

Pavel is an Associate with SWA Laguna Beach, joining the renowned landscape architecture practice in 2008. During his time with the company he has designed, managed, and executed a myriad of projects throughout Southern California and remote parts of the globe. As a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona, he has developed and conducted a teaching collaboration at his Alma Mater to bridge the gap between the educational and professional worlds. Pavel is the creator and studio coordinator of this public private partnership known as the SWA + CPPLA Urban Design Studio. The studio has evolved into an annual tradition in the Laguna Beach Office since 2013. The program provides students with an opportunity to learn-by-doing and grow rapidly in a high stakes and fast moving environment. They obtain real-world design experience and get exposure to SWA¿s process, design approach, and philosophy.

Sean O¿Malley has over 31 years of experience in all aspects of the profession¿including large-scale planning and construction. As an urban designer, planner, and landscape architect, he has implemented a unique approach to the design of cities, drawing upon the strength of site and utilizing natural structures as a framework for development. He also has a depth of plant knowledge (especially California indigenous plants), utilizing this skill as place-maker for award-winning community-scale projects. He has worked in the US, Europe, China and other parts of the world.Sean¿s design interests are rooted in environmental infrastructure and the integration of the natural structures of a site with its development potential; blurring the distinction between landscape and architecture.Some of his project highlights with SWA include leading the planning and design of Shunde New City in China, which has involved numerous waterfront development plans incorporating transportation, land use, and urban design strategies; multiple phased residential and commercial mixed-use development projects for the Irvine Community Development and Mission Viejo Companies in southern California; and numerous parks and open space planning and design concepts highlighting open space, topography, and recreation in dense urban environments.

Andrew Wilcox is a Professor and Chair of the Landscape Architecture Program at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. At Cal Poly Pomona he is the undergraduate program coordinator and teaches design studios at all levels with an emphasis on interdisciplinary practice and urbanism.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Beyond the Edge: Water + Urbanism in Wuhan, China
• Editors: Pavel Petrov, Andy Wilcox
• Contributor: Sean O'Malley
• Publisher: Pavel Petrov, 2018
• ISBN: 0692095632, 9780692095638
• Length: 170 pages