Xiamen, the eastern starting point of the “Belt and Road” initiative, is an important fulcrum for China’s image to the world. The western gateway of Xiamen, Maluanwan, has the important mission to help was envisioned to shape the city with a “high starting point and new expectations”. The central island is located at the core of the new city and is the heart of the Maluanwan New District. As the city’s new Central Business District (CBD), it is the service core and power engine for the integrated development of industry and city.

In year 2020, CPG Consultants’ Urban Planning team led a consortium together with the Hordor Design Group to participate in the international “Xiamen Maluanwan New District Central Island Detailed Planning” design competition and placed first. The consortium was then awarded the project and is furthering the plan with the local government.

The design highlighted the four development strategies comprising of shaping of regional gateways, development of three-dimensional continuous connection network, creation of CBD core environments and resilient communities placemaking. There was a lot of focus on Xiamen’s local environmental characteristics that were enhanced and implemented through the planning to ensure green parks, open spaces and networks were well-connected throughout the island while maintaining visual connection to the mountain corridor.

For continued economic success, major public infrastructure and key development programs are identified to establish the framework of the central island. With expertise from the CPG Transport team, a Transport Oriented Development (TOD) concept that centres on extensive comprehensive networks of public spaces along transit nodes and high-quality environments surrounding the CBD core is proposed to make it a world-class headquarters. Finally, with experiential delight in mind, the team infused the CBD with design elements of accessible green space for enhancing the overall urban landscape, ecological environment and urban resilience.