THW Design

In early 2011, THW Design was presented a unique opportunity to compete in a design competition for a town center in Shandong Province, China.  In the lush, picturesque Yaojia Valley, a team of developers was seeking to create a new town center away from the urban and industrial environs of the prefecture city of Zibo.  Wellness, health preservation, and environmentally sensitive design were key drivers of this new town center.  After developing some early concepts, the team invited THW Design and four other firms to a design competition.  Three of the other firms were internationally based, and the fourth was a US based firm with international experience.  These four firms were given 2 months to prepare their submissions, while THW Design was invited to the competition with only three weeks before the submittal deadline.  With an aggressive program and abbreviated timetable, the client created an opportunity for a forward thinking firm to produce an innovative and exciting design solution.

The site itself presented many challenges:  steep topography, creeks and rivers, and existing features to remain, such as large trees and stone retaining walls.  Ongoing infrastructure improvements, such as roadway widening and realignment and the demolition and relocation of the existing village,set the stage for the work to come.  Using years of experience in developing sustainable solutions, THW Design's land planning and architecture teams analyzed the constraints and identified numerous opportunities to protect and capitalize on the site's natural assets.  Due to their integration of these natural assets with innovative architectural solutions, along with the principles of a Vital Life Community, the client awarded THW Design the commission over the other four firms.

The client's original program for Taoyuan Town Centre design competition included a new Landmark Building for exhibitions, a retail-oriented village, a 15 story high-end hotel, a mixed-use village, and a seniors wellness center, as well as a community park and vitality center along the river to the south.  THW Design implemented this program in their conceptual master plan, and also provided creative parking solutions as well as an innovative tram system layout for ease of travel throughout the steep terrain of the site.

The Vitality  Center is actually contained within the existing Taoyuan Schoolsite.  This would be a place for enhancing mental and physical wellbeing, both indoors and out.  Cultivation Courtyards surrounding the architecture provide spaces for quiet reflection or exercise.  A pedestrian bridgeconnects the center to a river front active community park with lush open spaces, formal gardens, and exercise stations.  Beneath a monumental clock tower, a tea house would provide a social hub overlooking the stream, while a tram station would give a link to the rest of the community.  The clock tower would also serve as a means of access to the underground parking structure and pedestrian tunnel linking to an additional parking deck adjacent to the Landmark Building.  After the competition and as work progressed with the client, the desired use for the Taoyuan School site evolved into anExhibition Center.  The Cultivation Courtyards would now be used as outdoor classrooms or exhibit spaces for local artisans just outside of the Exhibition Center.  The center itself would feature exhibit halls, presentation rooms, and an amphitheater.  The tea house evolved into a two-level coffee bistro surrounded by the community park.

The Landmark Building was envisioned as a marketing piece to draw visitors and future residents into the Taoyuan Town Centre.  The Landmark appears as a glimmering droplet of water or lotus flower rising from the surrounding tranquil pools and cascading waterfalls.  A sweeping glass wall creates an outdoor atrium space with lush plantings and water features that leads into a two-story lobby.  The stunning architecture of the Landmark would not only draw prospective buyers, but its use as the spa and club for all residents would exemplify the vital living found throughout the Taoyuan Town Centre.  Spa facilities would include therapy rooms and spa pools, with space for aerobics and fitness equipment, as well as a lap pool.  Exercise for mind and body would be found in the Qigong and Tai chi areas overlooking the atrium and water features below.  This multi-level space would also feature restaurants, bars, and a rooftop lounge with a dramatic view of the entire valley.  As the design process progressed, the concept for the Landmark Building morphed into a more conventional building style and moved to the west of the stream.  The new concept is that of a gateway to the Town Centrethat is merely an extension of the hillside.  The architecture takes advantage of the hill to provide economical benefits in the form of energy savings, as well as aesthetic benefits through the use of grottoes and cascading  water features.  A landmark tower marks the center of the architecture's axes, with a lap pool radiating out to the north and a visitor's center to the west.  Above the visitor's center, a spa pool and whirlpools create a soothing oasis overlooking the stream.  In between the axes, a day spa connects the spa pool to a unique water feature flowing from the hillside above.  Also on this level, a bistro, restaurant, and meeting rooms create ample space for social events.  A covered porch functions as a bridge to the tram station and Village to the east.  The third floor houses several spaces for active fitness activities.

The Village was originally conceived as a stylized European village streetscape for retail shops, cafés, and an inn.  Much of the vernacular architecture of the existing village was similar to that of Old World European cities, and the client wished to build upon that image.  THW Design's concept not only featured the charm of just such a village spilling down the hillside, but did so with universal accessibility design practices to ensure residents of all abilities could enjoy the space.  Stairs and winding ramps guide residents and visitors alike through quaint courtyards and larger plazas for community gatherings.  Underground structured parking and rear service areas ensure these spaces are for pedestrians only, while a tram station provides a connection with the rest of the community.  Taking cues from the natural hydrology of the site, the concept respects the existing stream flowing to the west, while a linear water feature flows through the village from pool to pool, finally cascading into the existing stream just above the bridge to the Landmark Building.  Centralized community gardens along the stream provide residents with opportunities to socialize and grow their own fruits and vegetables, a proven aspect of a Vital Life Community.  In the final Village concept, grew into that of a pedestrian Main Street, connecting a large pedestrian plaza to the south to the rest of the community to the north.  Ringed by overlooks to the stream below, this plaza is a sizeable open space suitable for public gatherings or social events, and is a transition from the surrounding vehicular roadways and drop-offs to pedestrian-only areas of the Village.  As Main Street leaves the plaza, it traverses along a retail streetscape with public courtyards at each twist and turn through the Village.  The architecture echoes the European village style from the original concept, complete with residential scale streetscapes and monumental bell towers. Architectural gateways separate the public spaces from smaller, more intimate private courtyards.  These spaces, accentuated by water features or ornamental plantings, would be fronted by specialty shops or quiet cafés.  Due to the creative use of an existing stone retaining wall, the site plan for the Village allows for saving several large existing trees in these smaller courtyards.  As Main Street bridges over the existing stream, it leads to a restaurant and plaza overlooking a small pool.  With both pedestrian and vehicular access, this cluster creates a second gateway to the village, as well as a connection to the northern end of the Town Centre.     

The Hotel, a 15-story icon, rests atop an outcropping above a series of cascading waterfalls.  Accessed from the Ridgeline Drive for service and parking or through the mixed-use village, the Hotel rises above the valley below to offer a commanding view of its surroundings.  The Hotel was envisioned as a destination in and of itself – a full service resort with plush accommodations and ample amenities.  Entering from mixed-use village, guests would pass beneath the porte cochere into a spacious lobby, with direct access to fine dining, a bar and lounge, as well as a complete fitness center and rooftop terrace.  Each of these amenities feature a panoramic view of the Taoyuan Valley and the water flowing below.  The lobby level is actually a bridge over the waterway, with multiple waterfalls stepping down the hillside.  This level also offers access to a tram station and a multi-level parking deck tucked into the hillside.  The level below the lobby is a large conference center with several meeting rooms overlooking the falls and gardens beyond.  On its lowest level, the Hotel features a large aquatic center.  Lap and spa pools give guests options for both exercise and relaxation.  An outdoor terrace wraps around the pool deck and  allows for up-close views of the pools and falls.  Nine levels of rooms and suites showcase the sweeping pastoral views of the surrounding mountains, while the penthouse level houses five-star suites, a clubroom, and a covered rooftop terrace.  After the design competition, the program for the Hotel changed into that of a luxury apartment building.  Design decisions were made to incorporate more of the existing rock outcroppings and cliffs in determining the appropriate site.  Entering through the motor court and beneath the porte cochere, residents would be welcomed home by a spacious lounge and comfortable living room overlooking the cliffs and stream below.  Model apartments are easily accessible from the administration space on this floor as well.  The level below features panoramic views from several spaces for the community of residents:  a full service restaurant and lounge, a multi-purpose room, and an outdoor terrace for social gatherings.  This level also gives access to the ground level and pathways connecting to the rest of the community.  The lowest level further exemplifies Vital Life concepts with its ample fitness area and lap pool.  Both spaces connect to an outdoor terrace that partially encircles this level, offering views of the stream and the architecture spanning it above.  The majority of the resident apartments are grouped in two different floor plan types:  Terrace andTower.  Each floor plan type is grouped in clusters of three, with the upper two floors overlooking the shared common spaces on the lower floor below.  Thinking forward, the architect designed each floor in such a way that units may be combined or separated in the future as residents age in place.  This flexibility accommodates residents of all abilities, including skilled nursing care. The Penthouse level houses its own common spaces, and each unit enjoys at least one balcony to maximize exterior exposure.  

The Town Centre mixed-use village was conceived of as a vibrant community for residents and visitors alike.  As throughout the rest of the Taoyuan Town Centre, waterways are abundant.  Streams course through the heart of the village, encircling an amphitheater band shell, reappearing in various fountains and features, then flowing out beneath the Hotel.  Responding to the challenging topography, the village flows down the hill and carves out grand open pedestrian spaces and allows the architecture to account for significant grade changes.  Beginning on the western edge of the village, a parking deck connects a tram station and the Ridgeline Drive to the retail level below.  This parking deck serves both the Hotel and the village and its facade matches the European style of the surrounding architecture.  On this retail level, barrier-free plazas allow pedestrians of all abilities free reign throughout the shops, markets, and restaurants in the village.  A daycare center provides options for parents who work and live in the vicinity.  Entertainment options in the village include the amphitheater for casual outdoor performances and a performing arts theater for formal events.  Vehicular access through the plaza enables traffic to the Hotel and parking deck, though most traffic would be encouraged to utilize the parking deck entrance from the Ridgeline Road.  Through the use of concrete pavers, this street is visually unobtrusive yet clearly delineates vehicular space.  The street connects the plaza level with the main road level below by bridging over a lower pedestrian terrace.  The upper levels of the architecture are residential spaces:  condos, dorms/apartments, and Wellness Suites, giving residents of all ages options for aging in place.

At the head of the Yaojia Valley rests a Senior Center with spectacular views of the Towne Centre below.  Accessed from the Ridgeline Road via its own porte cochere and motor court, the Senior Center offers its residents a multitude of options for living a vital life.  The main entry level offers several social venues for dining and gathering.  A tea room, bar, and bistro all invite residents in for a casual meal, while a full service restaurant and outdoor terrace provide space for formal dining.  The terrace wraps along the architecture and affords views into the natural gardens and water features below.  Also on the entry level is a connection to the mixed-use village.  This connection also guarantees inter-generational contact with the village's daycare center.  Fitness options available on this level include an indoor fitness track that overlooks the aerobics and tai chi spaces on the level below.  Further below, a lower level houses even more fitness and wellness options with a lap pool and fitness rooms.  An integrated medicine clinic and rehabilitation facilities provide spaces for consultation and therapy.  At the plaza level, residents are free to enjoy a lap pool with views into the gardens.  These gardens provide a centerpiece on which the interior spaces focus.  Tranquil pools and rushing waterfalls surround a small island created for outdoor exercise and a gazebo for reflection.  Pedestrian bridges link the island back to the fitness areas and the surrounding grounds.  Terraced retaining walls create spaces for fitness trails as the site steps down the hill to the lower entry drive.  A below ground structure gives ample parking for the Senior Center just below the motor court.