Zhongtian & Hiwell Gundari

Zhongtian & Hiwell Gundari is located in Hangzhou, a city shaped by mountains, water, and a long-standing poetic tradition. Drawing from Mediterranean spatial qualities and material sensibilities, the project establishes a calm, resort-like living environment rooted in light, water, and daily movement.

The landscape design takes advantage of the architectural layout and vertical conditions to create a continuous spatial sequence composed of layered courtyards and interconnected circulation. A five-part progression unfolds from the urban edge toward the residential core, guiding movement through varying degrees of openness and intimacy. Sightlines, water surfaces, and colonnaded walkways are carefully aligned, allowing the transition from city rhythm to a slower, more relaxed spatial tempo.

At the main entrance, an approximately 80-meter-long landscape corridor introduces a ceremonial arrival experience. White stone, water features, and Mediterranean planting establish a calm yet expressive threshold, while light and shadow animate the journey inward. Olive trees and silver date palms form a restrained yet atmospheric planting framework, reinforcing a sense of time, continuity, and calm.

The central water courtyard becomes the heart of the project. It forms a waterscape of approximately 5,000 square meters. Glacier-blue mosaic finishes reflect sky and greenery, dissolving visual boundaries and enhancing spatial permeability. Elevated walkways and viewing platforms integrate circulation, rest, and social interaction into a single, fluid environment.

Vertical connections further enrich the spatial experience. A lightweight corridor links upper and lower terraces, guiding residents through layered perspectives. The upper infinity viewing platform frames sunset views over the central courtyard, while the lower gravel gardens and sunken spaces offer quieter, contemplative retreats. Indoor and outdoor water features are visually and physically connected, softening the boundary between architecture and landscape.

Material and planting strategies are deliberately restrained. Beige limestone, textured stone walls, and bronze-toned aluminum panels interact with light to create subtle variations throughout the day. Mediterranean-inspired planting – olive trees, lavender, rosemary, sage, and layered flowering compositions – adds softness and seasonal change, reinforcing the resort-like atmosphere without excess ornamentation.

Through a careful balance of order and openness, Gundari proposes a new model of residential landscape in Hangzhou: not a destination detached from daily life, but a lived-in space where relaxation, movement, and social interaction are gently woven into everyday routines.