From the Urban to the Natural: The Dual Dimensions
In Hangzhou, West Lake is an eternal image. Mist drifts across the water, mountains shimmer in reflection, and the elegance sung by poets continues to intertwine with everyday life. Nestled in this embrace of lake and hills lies Qinglu—a residence that sits between the vibrancy of the city and the serenity of nature, existing as a threshold between the rhythms of daily life and the timeless spirit of landscape.
At Qinglu, stone and vegetation become the principal language of design. On one side of the site, clean-cut stone surfaces paired with upright ginkgo trees create a rhythm that feels contemporary and restrained—an echo of the city’s order and clarity. Across the way, the atmosphere shifts quietly into a more natural setting: lush greenery unfolds, foliage overlaps, and a sense of depth and tranquility begins to linger in the air.
The arboreal layer is defined by persimmon, Chinese hackberry, Chinese tallow, and crape myrtle, their upright forms shifting in color and posture with the seasons; complemented by Japanese maple, plum blossom, kousa dogwood, and azalea, which infuse the garden with vivid emotion in spring and autumn. Mid-level shrubs such as spirea, duranta, and viburnum form the structural backbone of the space, enclosing and mediating between heights. At ground level, panicle hydrangea, liriope, iris, catnip, dwarf gardenia, and others weave a soft yet abundant tapestry, unfolding in layers of foliage and bloom.
In the initial hand-drawn concept, the space was envisioned with the pine tree as its primary motif, emphasizing a simple yet powerful presence. However, as the design evolved, greater attention was given to the coherence between site and atmosphere, leading to the final choice of preserving the existing plant community, whose layered richness and seasonal transformations resonate with the character of Qinglu.
Amidst this rich layering, branches stretch outward and light filters through in dappled patterns, imbuing the space with a fullness and poetry of its own. Here, one lingers to sense the turning of seasons, the slowing of time, and the freedom that comes from breathing in rhythm with nature.
The vegetation is not merely placed but seems to spill naturally from the crevices of stone, creeping outward to meet the water’s edge. In softening the boundaries of rock, the plants blur the line between what is built and what is born. The landscape becomes organic, alive—stone standing firm, plants weaving gently, together composing a dialogue between strength and tenderness, reason and emotion.
Thus, Qinglu offers two distinct atmospheres: on one side, a crisp, water-oriented modernity; on the other, an immersive natural scene of layered green and hushed quietude. As visitors wander and pause, the journey becomes a transition between these dual experiences—a passage from the contemporary to the timeless, from the constructed to the poetic.
Through Qinglu, July & Partners continues its pursuit of balance between people and nature. For us, landscape is not an ornament, but a bridge between modern life and the natural world. It responds to the cadence of today, while carrying the spirit of mountains and waters. On the edge of West Lake, Qinglu stands as a gentle attempt to restore a poetic dwelling in the city—an invitation for people to live once again in dialogue with nature.
Location | Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Project Type | Landscape Design
Project Area | Approx. 750 ㎡
Design Team | Kang Heng, Hu Xiaonan, Ye Zhao, Zhang Ling, Lou Jiabin, Zheng Haili, Wang Tingxin, Li Jun, Liu Jialu, Li Lijun
Scope of Work | Concept & Detailed Design, On-site Supervision
Architectural Design | DSA Design
Photography | Chen Hao