ABSTRACT
The 2014 studio was carried out in Xiamen, a scenic coastal city in Fujian Province. The studio aimed to explore alternative approaches to Transit-oriented Development based on the concept of Vertical Urbanism. This chapter argues for provocative urban design responding to the complex site and context at Wuyuan Bay and exploring Xiamen's urban culture and economic future. The waterfront site also invited ideas of ecological planning for optimal urban patterns suitable for Xiamen. The exploration of verticality is critical to the development not only to establish a sustainable ecological system but also sustainable social and economic systems. The concept, Bridge the Gap, is a direct response to this need. The design aims to bridge between the new development and the existing context. SportsGate focuses on Chinese culture by pulling from the philosophies of the Chinese Garden design and by providing a framework for the growing activity-driven lifestyle in contemporary cities.
