Aranya · Jiulong Lake Mansion, Guangzhou

Located beside Jiuwan Tan Reservoir in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, this 10,000 m² project is a botanical landscape practice that integrates ecological restoration, site activation, and artistic aesthetics. Rooted in the core concept of plant narrative, it respects the original landform and natural context while reconstructing space, reusing materials, and selecting species with care to create a composite landscape that embodies Lingnan character, ecological resilience, and emotional depth.

The spatial design adopts a restrained, nature-led approach. A palette of native greens, stone grays, and warm wood tones forms a minimalist language in harmony with its surroundings. Existing mature trees are preserved, while obstructive shrubs are cleared to open sightlines. Strategies such as sunlit lawns, rock gardens, and ecological drainage channels shape a clear, open, and layered environment that invites exploration.

Material selection maximizes local resources: large stone blocks are integrated into rock formations; gravel and yellow earth form micro-topography and water systems; paving employs raw stone, gravel, and timber to enhance texture and a sense of time.

Facing challenges of unstable plant supply, altered terrain, and surplus construction materials, the team adopted a flexible approach of dynamic plant selection + on-site adjustment, ensuring adaptability and visual harmony. The principle of low intervention + resource reuse minimized new material purchases and construction disturbance, achieving ecological and economic benefits.

Within a setting that appears “untouched,” the project quietly yet powerfully rekindles the emotional bond between people and nature. It offers a contemporary interpretation of the new landscape aesthetic, where ecological integrity, cultural identity, and artistic expression converge.