Xiong'an, a new city conceived in 2017 by Xi Jinping 100 kilometers from Beijing, is set to become a model of innovative urbanism. The project differs from many other new cities in China in that the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council of the PRC are involved in it: this indicates its strategic importance for the country. Among the first ideas for Xiong'an was his servicing exclusively by self-driving cars.
The competition for different types of development in Xiong'an was held in the spring, when most of the participants were sitting at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, according to Guallart Architects, it was natural to think about what they are missing right now, when they cannot leave the house. So the idea of housing designed to stay there during a long quarantine arose: housing not only comfortable for the inhabitants, but also providing them with everything they needed, practically independent of supplies.
An array of four blocks connects the western layout with the high-rise buildings characteristic of Chinese cities. Engineering wood was chosen as a material. The program includes ordinary apartments, collective housing for young and old, offices, a swimming pool, shops, a food market, a kindergarten, a civic center and a fire station.
On the ground floor, workshops with 3D printers and digital machines are conceived, which are able to quickly produce things that are necessary for residents in everyday life, but for some reason inaccessible. Greenhouses will be placed on the roof, which will provide residents with food, and solar panels on their roofs.
The resource efficiency of the complex is based on a loop-back system of energy and food production, recycling of materials and water.
The apartments will have spacious south-facing terraces, which should replace the residents' "street" in case of quarantine. They also serve as a “thermal buffer” between the interior and the surrounding area. The conditions for remote work were also thought out: connection to the 5G network and home offices.
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zooming 1/5 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 2/5 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 3/5 Residential area for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 4/5 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 5/5 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 1/3 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 2/3 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 3/3 Residential area for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 1/5 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 2/5 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 3/5 Residential area for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 4/5 Residential area for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
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zooming 5/5 Housing estate for Xiong'an New City © Guallart Architects
