Lvfa Urumqi · Mirage of the Silk Road

Lvfa Urumqi · Mirage of the Silk Road

Inspired by Xinjiang’s dramatic canyon landscapes, alluvial plains, and oasis civilization, the landscape design of Lvfa Urumqi project fuses Silk Road heritage with contemporary culture to shape a new urban landmark for Urumqi.

The project located in urban area of Urumqi, Xinjiang, within the fertile oasis at the foothills of the Tianshan Mountains. At Asia's geographic heart, this former Silk Road hub leverages its pivotal position as a modern cultural/commercial nexus. Here, Eastern and Western cultures converge, dynamically fusing regional commerce, humanities, and art. This large-scale mixed-use complex comprises three international hotels—The Ritz-Carlton, Westin, and Aloft—atop a retail podium, adjacent to a major convention center.

Drawing from the interplay between natural alluvial fans and man-made oases, the design refines textures and lines where nature and order coexist. Concepts such as “Mirage” and “Fantastic Silk Road” symbolize the overlap of ancient and modern Silk Roads and the reflection of city and mountains. Local elements—silk patterns, traditional instruments, and architectural motifs—enrich the landscape space with cultural depth.

The "Valley Oasis" sponge system employs clustered bio retention zones with native plantings to resolve 14m elevation differentials while maximizing ecological and sustainable benefits. Utilizing the steep site gradient, the "Colonnade Bazaar" forms a semi-tunneled marketplace where sequenced three-dimensional volumes choreograph ethereal interactions between light, shadow, and iridescent colors. "Mirage canopy" made of mirror stainless steel dynamically capture Tianshan’s shifting light, evoking desert mirages in dialogue with time. To the south, a sunken plaza guides guests through canyon-inspired terraced landscapes toward the commercial core. At ground level, the retail precinct manifests as an urban oasis where "Reflections of Mountains and Cities" water features mirror architecture, embodying the coexistence of historic routes and modern vitality amidst nature and vibrant life for public.

Overall, this imaginative conceptual landscape conjures a dreamlike oasis atmosphere, expresses ecological foresight through contemporary means, fuses Silk Road spirit with Xinjiang culture while catalyzing dynamic social engagement for urban communities—establishing an internationally resonant city landmark.