Jardín Encendido (Lighted Garden): Reinterpreting the Chinese Garden as a Landscape of Movement and Water in Shaoxing | Masters Design Thesis

Site Context

Shaoxing, located in Zhejiang Province, China, is a historic city with over 2,500 years of history, originally founded as the capital of the ancient Yue State. Situated about 200 kilometers from Shanghai, along the Qiantang River, it is home to over five million people and is recognized as an important cultural center. The city is known for its traditional white houses with dark tiled roofs and its strong connection to literature, having been home to many scholars and poets.

One of Shaoxing’s most distinctive features is its extensive network of interconnected canals, historically used for transport and trade, where traditional covered boats are still in use today. The flat terrain and high humidity are shaped by abundant rainfall and proximity to water. The city also preserves more than 700 ancient bridges, some over a thousand years old.

The project features multiple entrances, accessible pathways, and parking nearby. Landscaped trails, elevated walkways, and covered connections guide visitors. Controlled-scale pavilions host events, workshops, research, and leisure. Native gardens, ponds, wildlife observation points, and urban furniture enhance the landscape. Sustainable strategies include rainwater reuse, permeable surfaces, and solar energy. Quiet contemplation areas complete the design.

Design Process

The project aims to reactivate the area by promoting local traditions and creating an inclusive space for everyone. Its main goal is to revive a gradually abandoned zone through a vibrant environment filled with nature, color, and light. The proposal is deeply connected to its surroundings, establishing a pathway that links key tourist points while connecting the southern park with the northern lake.

Designed as a contemporary reinterpretation of a traditional Chinese garden, the project emphasizes vegetation as the central element, with pavilions integrated within it to host various activities. It offers a sequence of diverse experiences where historical and modern elements coexist.

Materiality plays a key role, reinterpreting traditional textures in a modern way while guiding movement through the space and acting as a system of orientation. The result is a natural, labyrinth-like environment composed of sustainable and healthy spaces. Ultimately, the project seeks to revitalize both the territory and its users, creating a place that inspires and awakens the senses day and night.

Final Outcome

The final outcome of the project is a vibrant, multi-sensory Chinese-inspired garden that seamlessly integrates nature, architecture, and sustainability. It revitalizes an abandoned urban area by connecting the northern lake with the southern park through accessible pathways, elevated walkways, and contemplative trails. Vegetation dominates the landscape, creating immersive experiences alongside carefully positioned pavilions for research, workshops, exhibitions, and leisure.

The design emphasizes harmony between past and present, blending traditional garden principles with modern materials, sustainable infrastructure, and interactive features. Water management systems, including rainwater collection, phytoremediation, and ponds, ensure ecological resilience, while solar panels and permeable pavements reduce environmental impact. Public spaces, resting areas, and observation points encourage reflection, education, and social interaction.

Conclusion: By activating both the territory and its users, the project fosters awareness of nature, culture, and sustainability. The “Enlightened Garden” becomes a living, adaptable space that awakens the senses, inspires creativity, and serves as a model for future urban-nature integration.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]