The most successful cities are not merely built; they are lived. They take shape through the chance encounters that give urban life its spark – the conversations in plazas, the stillness in parks, the energy of a bustling arcade. At Woods Bagot, we see architecture as the stage for these performances — spaces designed not just to function, but to invite connection. This philosophy is rooted in recent work in Wuhan, Hangzhou and Sanya, where the public realm is activated as a lively urban canvas in distinct ways.
In Wuhan New City, BloomRiver — the first phase of the Huashan River Urban Complex — marks the beginning of a district designed to evolve beyond retail into office, residential, and cultural life. Principal Christopher Lye calls it “a civic anchor at the heart of Wuhan New City,” underscoring how even a single program can seed a larger ecosystem. By opening the public realm and prioritising permeability, BloomRiver sets the tone for a district that will grow into a vibrant urban stage.
Hangzhou Mansion Retail Urban Upgrade tells a story of renewal, reimagining one of Wulin Square’s most iconic landmarks as part of the city’s ongoing transformation. Its luminous “Lighting On” concept turns the building into a civic passageway, reconnecting plaza and courtyard while inviting people back into the public realm. Director Jean Weng describes it as “more than a renovation – it re-stages the building as a civic passageway where retail, leisure, and culture converge — reconnecting the city’s identity with contemporary urban life.” In this way, the project reframes a landmark as a shared stage for modern urban life.
From the civic ambition of Wuhan and the layered renewal of Hangzhou, we turn to Sanya, where the idea of the city as a stage takes on a tropical character. Conceived as an “Oasis Stage,” Joy City Sanya translates climate and coastal energy into a layered urban performance. Its bold “Red Box” façade sets the scene, while terraces, shaded plazas, and rooftop gardens choreograph movement across levels. By day, it hosts shopping and leisure; by night, it becomes a stage for culture, night economy, and social life.
“Within the Free Trade Port context, Sanya Joy City is framed as a resilient theatre for both locals and tourists.”
From Wuhan’s civic anchor to Hangzhou’s luminous renewal and Sanya’s tropical Oasis Stage, these projects reveal how architecture can transform the everyday into performance. Each city offers its own script — Wuhan’s ambition, Hangzhou’s heritage, Sanya’s tourism — yet all share a commitment to people and public life. To design in this way is to set the stage for human connection, where plazas, courtyards, and terraces become the places where urban life plays out and meaning is made.
Media enquiries Shirley Hao Content and Communications Leader (China)
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