Green Island: A Porous Urban Retreat

Located in the heart of Nanjing’s Gulou District, the site sits adjacent to the historic Drum Tower—once a focal point for ceremonial activities. Over the past decade, rapid urban development has transformed the area into a dense, highly connected hub of transport and commerce.



Within this intense urban condition, the project seeks to reintroduce a sense of ritual into everyday life, creating a spatial retreat that offers moments of pause, gathering, and reflection for diverse urban communities.



The project proposes a contemporary “urban island” defined not by rigid boundaries, but through a system of geometric tiering and permeable spatial edges.



Instead of solid walls, perforated geometric screens and layered landscape elements form a soft threshold, filtering noise while maintaining visual connections to the surrounding city.



A series of sculpted concrete planes rise and fall across the site, creating a subtle topography that supports informal seating, movement, and social interaction. Integrated ecological planting further reinforces this boundary, while bronze-accented planters introduce a warm material contrast against the predominantly grey geometric paving and concrete tiers, softening the overall spatial atmosphere.



At the heart of the project lies a central gathering space anchored by a timber platform, introducing a tactile and human-scaled materiality within the otherwise mineral landscape.



Towards the edge, a semi-circular water space forms the key focal point of the landscape. A shallow reflecting pool, articulated with dark stone paving and subtle metal detailing, creates a calm and contemplative atmosphere.



Opposite the water edge, a raised planting zone accommodates layered floral planting, integrated seating, and sculptural elements, forming an elevated landscape backdrop that enriches spatial depth and seasonal variation.



This space is designed to be adaptable: when filled, it reflects the sky and surrounding environment, enhancing a sense of stillness; when drained, it transforms into a flexible platform for community events, performances, and everyday urban use.



Through this duality, the project establishes a contemporary interpretation of “urban ritual,” where space continuously shifts between contemplation and collective activity.