TJAD Original Design Studio Transforms Zhejiang Riverbank into Undulating Public Space

TJAD Original Design Studio has completed a project along the southern bank of the Jiaojiang River in Zhejiang Province, China, converting a rigid embankment into a series of soft, undulating mounds that integrate with the urban landscape. The design dissolves the traditional terraplén into a chain of gentle hills that mimic wind-driven waves, creating a dynamic topography that welcomes urban life and captures river breezes. This transformation is part of the broader deindustrialization of the riverfront, where former industrial activities have retreated, allowing the recovered riparian zone to become a mixed-use space incorporating blue, green, and gray infrastructure systems. The project occupies the western extension of the riverfront public space and is a key segment of the Zhejiang Province Seawall Safety and Resilience Project. The design emphasizes the integration of natural and built environments, with the mounds folding into the living contours of the land, making the previously rigid embankment a soft, life-filled terrain. The project reflects a growing trend in China toward ecological restoration and resilient infrastructure, blending flood protection with public amenity. The studio, known for its innovative architectural and landscape designs, has created a space that not only addresses safety and resilience but also enhances the quality of urban life along the river.