Located in a prosperous special economic zone near Shanghai, China, the city of Kunshan in Jiangsu province has seen an explosion in population and economic wealth. To be developed along a riverwalk park adjacent to a newly constructed residential neighborhood, the project aims to interact with the various types of users by creating a hill for people to climb upon.

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One of the largest problems posed by the site was how to activate the second level. Predominately composed of service and dinning facilities, the project activated the second storey by utilizing three different design features. The building connects itself directly to a walking bridge that crosses the river, allowing pedestrians to freely flow through the second storey on their way along the boardwalk. A monolithic staircase greets new visitors from the street and invites them to continue climbing up towards the various roofdecks that overlook the waterfront. From the east, pedestrians are led up an earth berm that terminates in a cafe and multipurpose performance space. The berm then connects to the second storey and on towards the pedestrian

bridge.

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Due to the various methods of bridging the programming of the three buildings, unique spaces are created throughout the site that extend the percievable space of the shops to the outdoors. Open areas are integrated into the design to allow for groups of playing children and nightly community gatherings of dancers and performers. A tensile fabric canopy partially covers the roof deck adjacent to the cafe on the berm and the roofdecks of the two three-storey buildings connected to the pedestrian bridge. The canopy provides for rain protection and a refuge from the sun during the warmer months.

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Much like how the trees that line the riverbank accompany visitors on their walk from the bridge, the canopy utilizes a tree-structure to create a more transparent tree-like column scheme to help invite visitors to the higher decks. Gardens are planted on the berm to provide private areas to allow visitors more intimate interactions with friends and family.

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Open to the river, the program retains an inviting gesture that draws people to the edge from the street.Layering plays an important role in fluidity of movement within the site, creating unique intersections of people and program throught the building. Maintaining the continuity of the pedestrian bridge crossing the river, an extension of the bridge continues across the central courtyard, allowing for people to cross directly to the riverbank and become engaged in the activity below.