Build Architecture Awards 2016

2016 Architecture Awards Build 113 Company: SWA Name: Ning Deng Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.swagroup.com Address: 811 West 7th Street, 8th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017 Telephone: 213-236-9090 hroughout its 59-year history, SWA has embraced the idea that planning and design can shape the environment in fundamen- tal ways. The firm is structured to facilitate the role of design and planning in building memorable places that have clarity in function, identity and meaning. Ning is keen to emphasize below, the design philosophy of SWA that sets the firm apart. “Unique to SWA is the strong, continuous connection between planning and design. Our practice is dedicated to dealing with larger social, economic and environmental issues in our project work. Fuzhou Vanke City is one example of how we continuously push design to better serve the users and environment. Our planning (deciding what should occur on the land) and our design (deciding what shape and character that should be) constitute a seamless process.” The group’s mission is to create place and community with inspiration. Ning discusses this in greater detail and describes how the firm achieves this goal. “We constantly search for ways to create a special place, a unique community, one that reflects the hand of the designer and stimulates a fresh response. For Fuzhou Vanke City, we realized early on that the mountainous terrain should be preserved for special viewsheds, and that the topography also enables us to implement a low impact water retention design for the central lake. Our team’s approach to sustainable design is one in which the structures, the mountains, and the lake mutually benefit from a symbiotic relationship. The central lake area of the main watershed basin is leveraged as a public open space and a spectacular walking experience for the residents. Neighborhood parks nestled in the topography act as detention areas to capture and clean stormwater, and is hydrologically connected to the central lake area. The parks are interlinked by an extensive trail network to form diverse recreational options for the resi- dents. The natural amenities of the park perform the dual function of providing respite for people, and serving as a network for cleaning and detaining water. ” Ultimately, Ning believes that it is the firm’s innovative approach to projects which has helped it to reach the success it enjoys today. “Overall our responsibility lies not only with the intricacy or complexity of de- signing and building a place, but also in discovering the intrinsic qualities of that place. Everything aims toward that goal, and this will be our continued focus moving forward.” SWA Recognised Leader in Landscape Architecture - USA & Most Innovative Residential Mixed-Use Development: Fuzhou Vanke City SWA is a global leader in landscape architecture, planning, and urban design. We invited Ning Deng, Principal of the Los Angeles studio, to talk us through the firm and how it aims for excellence in every aspect of its work. T AR160131