Turenscape’s Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park in Henan, China, brings together ecological strategy and cultural storytelling in a striking 43-hectare transformation. Built on the principles of sponge city design, the project manages urban flood risks while reimagining public space through the lens of ancient mythology.
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The park is located in Huaiyang, the legendary birthplace of Fuxi, a foundational figure in Chinese mythology credited with creating the Eight Trigrams (Bagua). This cosmological symbol system directly informs the park’s design. Crater-shaped islands, created from recycled earth, form a constellation of 27 themed zones, each offering different uses, from playgrounds and sports courts to reflective water gardens and art spaces.
The infrastructure is not only functional but beautiful. A network of boardwalks connects the floating islands, meandering across safe water levels without the need for railings. Seasonal changes bring further interaction, skating in winter, open-air performances in summer, making the park a year-round destination.
Sustainability is central to the concept. The park can regulate over a million cubic meters of stormwater, aided by flood-resistant plants and a solar-powered water purification system capable of treating 11,500 tons of runoff per day. Native trees like willows and poplars, often referenced in ancient poetry, root the park in local tradition while reinforcing its environmental mission.
More than a public green space, the Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park serves as a living monument to the past and a tool for the future. It balances folklore with function, art with ecology, a rare example of infrastructure acting as cultural experience.
Read the full story on ARCHISCENE: Sponge Synergy: Turenscape’s Huaiyang Fuxi Cultural Park
