urban regenerationcommercial mix usepark&plaza

Beijing Zhongguancun West Art Park

中关村西区大融城

A Beijing urban renewal best-practice project transforming a closed underground commercial complex and underused plaza into a POD-oriented art park with layered retail, sunken courtyards, rooftop public space and everyday civic life.

* Indicates a project Jane Huang participated in during her tenure at AECOM.

Built sunken plaza connecting retail frontage, planting and public movement

Location

Beijing, China

Area

-

Client

Beijing Huizhong Zhida Investment Management Co., Ltd.

Status

Built

Recognition

Project Introduction

Context, scope and design response

The renewal reframes the former underground retail box through a park-first, no-expansion strategy. Landscape, architecture, planning and operation teams worked together to connect ground, underground and rooftop levels, introduce natural light into sunken commercial spaces, preserve local memory such as mature trees and civic landmarks, and turn difficult level changes into an open mixed-use destination.

Project Context

  • Selected as one of the 2025 Beijing Urban Renewal Best Practices
  • POD-oriented renewal of an existing underground commercial complex and terraced plaza
  • Creates roof garden, sunken courtyards and multi-level first-floor access
  • Preserves local memory including mature trees and civic landmarks

Design Scope

  • Urban regeneration strategy
  • POD public-space and commercial landscape integration
  • Sunken courtyard, roof garden and vertical circulation coordination
  • Historic memory, planting and public activity programming

Gallery

Drawings, built images and project details

Street-level concept view illustrating public life, planting and commercial edges
Master plan linking park, commercial program and surrounding streets
Built sunken plaza organized around existing trees and level changes
Built commercial frontage demonstrating the mix of retail, dining and open space
Evening aerial view of the regenerated public realm and commercial destination
Sunken plaza interior supporting retail circulation and gathering
Cafe terrace and shaded seating along the commercial frontage
Shaded seating beneath mature trees for everyday public life