Destination Design
GDW master planned Reuters, IOC President Jacques Rogge today announced Pyeongchang’s victory at the IOC’s session in Durban. It will be the first time a Korean city has staged the Winter Games and only the third time it will have been held in Asia.
In 2005, GlobalDesign Workshop’s (GDW) Brent Thompson teamed with Cuningham Group to create the concept for Alpensia with the express intent to enable South Korea to win the right to host the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Alpensia and its InterContinental and Holiday Inn resort hotels will serve as the host hospitality village for the olympics. Alpenisa’s ski jump facility, host of South Korea’s celebration fete this evening, will also serve as the venue for the Game’s opening and closing ceremonies.
Thompson master planned Alpensia using GDW’s “12 Elements of a Great Destination,” and one of GDW‘s primary master planning principles: “Endless variety within a distinct identity.” The design has wide appeal, extends stays and results in repeat visitation. Winter resort villages around the world were studied in detail, and special attention was given to Whistler, Canada, host of the 2010 Games. Thompson planned Alpensia based on the results of his research.
The Pyeonchang region narrowly missed winning each of the past two Winter Olympic votes, losing to Whistler in 2010 and the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi for 2014.
“This is one of the happiest days for our country, our people and millions of youth dreaming of winter sport,” Pyeongchang bid chief Cho Yang-ho told Reuters seconds after the announcement.
The Pyeongchang delegation in Durban cheered and chanted “Korea, Korea” after Rogge announced the decision.
On Wednesday, Korea won an unusual outright on the first round vote.
GDW’s Concept For DecoCity, Chengdu, China
GDW has recently completed a concept for DecoCity, a new urban development on the outskirts of Chengdu, China.
The client desired a city that was Art Deco in both architecture and lifestyle. We took this idea to heart, and created a plan based on the Art Deco theme of the rising sun, an apt metaphor for this new city, for Chengdu, and, most definitely, for China as a whole. Further, the rising sun provides the backbone for a city that offers an exceptional quality of life.
Our concept is based on the following principles:
Quality of Life
A place people want to live, work and play
Active Central Place
Easily accessed
Successful shops and restaurants
Vibrant sidewalks
Well loved parks
Surrounded by area of highest density
The city’s heart, the place where people gather
Parks and Gathering Places
Central Icon and plaza in the town center
Amphitheater for public events
“Bryant Park” with dining, public green and multi-use place
Small, neighborhood parks accessible places for a few quite moments, places for children to play, friends to meet
Nature Places
Nature areas made active by:
Cafes
Teahouses
Open spaces and areas for exercise
Carousel and places for children
Waterfront amphitheater
Sports Places
Large sports park with a variety of large and small sports facilities
Open space to be enjoyed by all
Walking Places
Pedestrian and vehicle spokes that allow easy access to the city center
Radial canals and walk streets create pleasant places to walk, and easy access to the river and sports area for all
Identity
Unique qualities that help people identify with a place and make them proud to call it their home
Singular architectural vocabulary expressing a strong identity
City plan reflective of that identity
Easily understood layout
Carefully considered massing offering a distinct and memorable skyline
Cohesive building massing contributing both to the overall massing and architectural identity
Unique landscaping that reflects and extends the architectural language
We recently presented this project for a retail and mixed-use center in Shenfu, Shenyang, China.
Development
Paramount Pictures
Warner Bros.
Universal Studios
