The project includes a masterplan for the 62 sq km site at the estuary along Xiamen’s southern coastline, as well as the urban design for the 15 sq km key area. It seeks to create three diversified sea cities with a whole host of business functions including leisure, cultural, entertainment, and community components.
The building layout utilises water ecology to assimilate the city into the landscape. The design combines southern Fujian traditions and modern architectural language, comprising outer streets and inner courtyards, to build a distinct public living space. This layout reflects the importance of the marine’s economic and cultural influence and Xiamen's unique environment.
The site is divided into three main areas to drive regional growth. These include a Corporate Headquarters Zone and Future Marine Park; a Business Green Valley and Seaside Culture and Art District; and a Jiuxi Science and Innovation Settlement and Maritime Community.
The Future Marine Park encircles The Corporate Headquarters Zone to provide auxiliary support for the airport business zone as well as various industrial and urban services. In order to circumvent limitations imposed by the airport height and concern for ecological health, the park adopts a flat and elongated form and the design introduces roof greening, sunken plazas and waterfronts.
Jiuxi Science and Innovation Settlement and Maritime Community comprises two zones and three smaller islands along both sides of the harbour. This area will become an integrated maritime work-community space merging green ecology and smart environment. It is populated with labs, conference centers, aquariums, mangrove parks, museums as well as residential clusters, with core areas created to provide supporting services to the communities.
Each island has a water square as its core, with multiple water lanes extending outward. Inner bays and characteristic wharves are created to present in full view the coastal scene to residents. Users are welcomed to conduct scientific and technological discourses and conferences surrounded by the rich water scene, demonstrating new and attractive methods of working.