On the site of the historic Guangzhou Shipyard, established more than a century ago on the west bank of the Pearl River, now spans a waterfront park that celebrates its setting. Once a military fortress and later a thriving shipbuilding factory, the site reconnects Guangzhou’s residents with the water.
Heritage preservation is central to the park’s identity. Relics such as tower cranes rise above tree level, while other remnants have been thoughtfully repurposed—hollowed-out ship parts serve as trash receptacles in the sports field, and old gear cogs embedded in the flood wall form portholes at a child’s eye level. These interventions are paired with new amenities including slipway-shaped pavilions, sports fields, ship-themed playgrounds, and a pedestrian green path that threads together the site’s cultural and ecological layers.
Treatment of contaminants was also essential for public health: SWA employed phytoremediation strategies that use local species such as flowering poinciana, hoop pine, and ryegrass to absorb residual pollutants from both the soil and the atmosphere. These ecological measures restore vitality to the site while creating a safe and welcoming environment for residents and visitors. More than 70 percent of the park’s pavement is permeable, while rain gardens manage stormwater across the site’s sloping terrain.
Guangzhou Shipyard Park revitalizes an industrial legacy into a riverside landscape that celebrates both history and innovation. Its design has been recognized internationally, receiving an Honor Award in the 2022 WLA Awards in the Built Urban Design category.
Project Data
Design: SWA
Location: Guangzhou, China
Size: 18 hectares
Client: Guangzhou Rui Lin Real Estate Developing Co
Collaborators: VAL
