Reconstrucción del paseo costero Yantian de 19.5 km - Zona oeste de Dameisha

Objective of the Proposal

The multi-year average of typhoon landing path around Shenzhen is 1.5 times, which indicates that the coastline faces continuous ecological vulnerabilities in the future. In 2018, the 200-year Super Typhoon Mangkhut that swept across the Yantian District caused various degrees of damage to the existing coastal boardwalks. Among them, the Seafood Street, Dameisha, and Xiaomeisha sections were seriously damaged. The main purpose of this proposal is to build connections between the ecological (environment) as well as humanistic impact (memory) caused by natural disasters with urban development and turn them into opportunities for the Yantian coastline and even the Yantian district. Through the establishment of anchors, connections, activation, ecology and resilience, the design aims to build Yantian Coastal Greenway into a coastal urban space bond, a world-class coastline.

Description of the Project

• Walkways as a Driving Force

Shenzhen Yantian Coastal Green Road, starting from Guta Park on Zhongying Street in the west, to Beizaijiao in the east, covers a total length of 19.5 Km. Among the walkways, reconstruction of Dameisha region – Dameisha Walkway considers the steepness of the reef and the severity of the existing boardwalk, the design recommends that the elevation of the boardwalk should be increased above the climbing height of the waves, the existing boardwalk structure and route are no longer retained. A large area of reefs will be used to shape the natural boardwalk when connecting to Dameisha Beach.

•  Re-building, Recovering, and Enriching the Public Infrastructure

Three major components of Dameisha Walkway include the enhancement of accessibility and service stations (newly added Dameisha Service Center facilities), the connection between upper and lower levels (differentiation of roadways, bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways), and enrichment of activities (which includes Atmosphere Garden, Flower in Port viewing platform, Shanzhu Sur, Rock Garden, Cove Sur, and Ocean Sur etc.).

Among them, the Dameisha Service Center is designed to strengthen the entrance and vertical connection of both coastal greenways and elevated walkways, as well as to set up a public service station. The indoor space of Dameisha Service Center meets needs of display, leisure, and reading. The space is rationally arranged, and ADA is considered as a significant component. Toilets, maternal and child rooms, etc., strengthen humanistic care. Ascend to the roof terrace on the second floor, there is an overlook of the Meisha Bay; a certain number of parking spaces is also set for outdoor areas. The Atmosphere Garden adjacent to the Service Center is set up with two levels of viewing wooden platforms according to the existing topography, forming a 180-degree view of the ocean. The planting of flowering trees and shrubs adds seasonal colors to the garden, which allows visitors enjoy and admire the scenery. The continuously connected Shanzhu Sur viewing platform not only combines the post-disaster site of Super Typhoon Mangkhut with adjacent corridors as a resting place, but also offers a westward view of the greenway along the port and the sea. With an intention to retain the memory of the destruction caused by Super Typhoon intended to retain the memory of destruction caused by typhoon Mangkhut, Shanzhu Sur aims to enhance the concept of ecological vulnerability to Yantian people and to construct an observation platform for the future.

Going west along the greenway, the upper viewing platforms provide a resting wooden plans along the Dameisha walkway to admire the scenic landscape of the Yantian Port; while the lower Rock Sur viewing platform is connected from the greenway through the steel structure to the road and creates a convenient place for citizens to stop and enjoy the scenery. The reef trail platform uses natural stones and beach reefs to form a trail close to the coast and stop for a rest at the junction with Dameisha Park.

Evaluation of the Finished Work

“Often we try to cover the tragic memories of disasters and rebuild things so that the remnants can be concealed. However, according to this proposal, we saw the potential of transforming tragedy into opportunity. Unlike most of the post-disaster reconstruction projects, by keeping the leftovers of the Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the story of re-constructing resiliency upon disasters, recovering destroyed infrastructure, and building walkways that reconnect and reshape the Yantian coastline into even the scope of Yantian area has been weaved by Yantian 19.5KM Waterfront Boardwalk Reconstruction such strong that there is hope for a sustainable model of future coastlines.”

-- 2020, Yantian Street Office Director