Wuhan OCT Eco Art Peninsula and Wetland Park

The OCT Wetland Park uniquely blends water and landscapes to provide a diversity of recreational and educational experiences along with enhanced biodiversity. The park helps realize the goals of a balanced ecological and social development by providing inspiration and engagement to support the long-term sustainable management of the Wuhan East Lake.

The design is inspired by its unique location, one of the eight scenic points of the East Lake Green Belt network, called ‘The Long Island of 100 Meadows’. To bring the rejuvenated experience into the site, a series of leisure and educational programs are strategically placed to reveal the beauty of the design: Parkland and Meadows, Reed Gardens, the Swamp Pine Walk, the Butterfly Garden, the native Water Gardens, and the Wetland Reserve. Each landscape typology was carefully designed to provide habitats for a range of native wetland flora and fauna expressing the rich diversity of nature.

As a former fishing village, the damaged site was comprised abandoned farmland and fishponds. One key goal was to see the challenges of the existing conditions and remaining vegetation as an opportunity to restore and create a healthy ecosystem. Existing trees, including the endangered Metasequoia glyptostroboides, have been preserved and reutilized to create the Swamp Pine Walk, one of the key features in this wetland park.

Ultimately, park was designed to create a sustainable ecosystem and use natural processes to improve the water conditions. Water systems within the park function as a filtration system channelling water into the Wetland Park. Reedbeds in the park filter and clean water drawn from East Lake and improve the water quality from grade 4 to grade 2 by circulating through the park’s wetlands before this is discharged back into the East Lake.

By blending the needs of the water ecosystem of East Lake with the community and social desire to create a lush beautiful park, the design successful reveals the beauty of the natural processes, educates visitors, and provides a place for people to enjoy.