At the heart of our proposal was the desire to deliver high quality public realm that prioritises the street level pedestrian experience. We achieved this in three ways: consolidation of multiple assets to a single volume to improve pedestrian flows; a clear uniformed architecture to aid wayfinding; and the use of the asset perimeters to create a generous connection to nature and places for people to pause and relax.

Our design concept uses a series of standardised components to address vents, stairs, entrances and compounds across the surface level of the metro line. The componentised approach allowed for uniformity and flexibility across multiple and varying asset types. We reduced the visual bulk of the asset while creating habitable spaces at street level.

The flexible design delivered across a broad range of assets and resulted in a proposal which uses a limited number of materials, systems and unique interface details. The generous integrated landscaping not only introduced nature into the passenger and pedestrian journeys, but also contributes to Guangzhou’s ‘sponge city’ policy to limit impermeable surfaces.