Benoy has been commissioned by the Guanjiang Group to revitalize the Taihe 1903 area of Kunming, known as the Taihe 1903 Yunnan Diamond.
Located in the core area of Kunming’s city centre, the project sits at the southern end of the core axis, Beijing Road, within the China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone. This zone plays a vital role in opening up Kunming’s economy and trade to the world. The Taihe 1903 Yunnan Diamond also marks the beginning of the Kunming-Singapore railway, which will serve over 25 million people annually, averaging about 70,000 passengers.
The site includes a major urban public transport hub, integrating metro lines 1, 2, 5, and 6, along with 35 bus routes that connect the entire Kunming area.
Site history:
In 1903, construction of the Kunming-Haiphong railway, China’s first truly self-designed railway, began at the northern end of the site. By 1966, the new Kunming Railway Station was completed at the southern end, situated at the intersections of two diagonal ancient river and urban green nodes on the east and west sides, creating a unique diamond-shaped site for the project.
Following the Chinese economic reform and economic boom, uncontrolled city growth led to disorder and chaos around the railway station. As new areas of the city developed, improved infrastructure and better landscape resources drew vitality away from the old city. The decline of the old city is not just a result of time but also due to the underdeveloped public services, outdated infrastructure, lack of urban landscape, and the neglected history.
Planning and Analysis:
The core principle behind a successful urban design blueprint is to implement urban regeneration in high-density, high-intensity areas in a commercially viable and effective manner. By focusing on internal relocation, the project aims to preserve the memories and lifestyles of the surrounding residents and their lives, Through comprehensive research and thorough evaluation of the buildings’ quality, age, historical value and commercial value, areas for renewal and redevelopment are identified. The development timeline is strategically planned with distinct phases, zones, and scales, ensuring a balance enhancing the overall image of urban regeneration and maintaining feasibility.
Building on the planned site, the project begins by decongesting the road system and consolidating fragmented plots to increase the overall scale of development. By introducing more ancillary services, the project aims to reorganise the site’s characteristics and reshape its footprint. Based on a ground plan analysis of the existing buildings, the diagonal lines of the two old river channels in the area will be retained to connect the various nodes of the city, preserving the unique diamond-shaped spatial design.
Design Concept:
Using the diamond shape as a basis for the spatial design, the project incorporates the design concept of ‘fusion of the four elements’ (四生融合), with ecology as the foundation. It introduces a multi-dimensional landscaping system and uses production to create a cluster of services along the central axis.
With a focus on people, we will create a community that boasts a high-quality lifestyle and vibrant commercial core, revitalising the heart of the region. The city’s design will eventually feature a ring, two axes, and four quadrants.
Spanning from the historic Yunnanfu Railway Station to modern Kunming Railway Station, from 1903 to the present day, this project bridges a century of time and space. By revitalizing this corridor, we aim to breathe new life into heart of Kunming, creating the Taihe 1903 Yunnan Diamond.
Project overview:
Scope of services:
Urban design
Category:
Masterplanning
Scale:
1,646 hectares
Principle project designer:
Qin Pang
Project leader:
Wei Tang, Xianbin Ni
Project design team:
Pengkun Wang, Jiacheng Ying
