New York based architecture firm Diller, Scofidio + Renfro has won a competition to design a new crescent shaped island located on the South China Sea off the coast of Hainan province, China.
The studio beat runner-up submissions from the UK’s Foster + Partners (pictured) and North America’s Morphosis (pictured).
The competition was co-ordinated by China’s HNA design and China Building Centre, with the former chief architect of Barcelona City Council, Vicente Guallart, as chief consultant.
Foster + Partners’ proposal
The South Sea Pearl Eco-Island development is funded by HNA Group and will include houses, hotels, a cruise ship port, yacht harbour, spa and theme park.
Work on the 250-hectare island will be divided into two stages, and will be linked with the city of Haikou by a bridge.
The jury said the "singular and clear" design would "create a beautiful, iconic form rising naturally out the landscape, recalling the volcanic caldera of the area, and shape the island into a continuous structure that would be an extremely efficient compaction of resort, retail, and housing.
Morphosis’ submission
"The project leaves the rest of the island as a place for aquaculture and agriculture, recreation, resort living and cultural facilities.
"This proposal is one for a truly a human-made island that celebrates all that makes such water-bound places so attractive and beautiful, while contributing to our understanding of deep, intrinsic ecology."
Top image: Diller, Scofidio + Renfro’s winning submission
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Everything hinges on the question on every potential visitor’s mind: ” Looks great – but I wonder how’s its weather this time of the year?!”
It’s a pity all the competing firms’ talent do nothing for their lack of scruples.
Am I the only one left wondering how the U.S. can oppose the Crimea Bridge but condone yet another Chinese “island” in the South China Sea?