crossboundaries' songzhuang micro park meanders over beijing streets

the team at beijing-based studio crossboundaries completes its songzhuang micro community park as an assemblage of ‘urban rooms.’ sited on a street corner, the sprawling brick project transforms its site into a place for meeting, gathering, and play. the design-minded micro park stands as an homage to the artistic heritage of beijing, which has seen art villages tracing back to the early 1900s when artists from across china settled along the grounds of the yuanmingyuan palace, generating a creative community and period of artistic exploration. eventually, many similar groups emerged across the chinese city, namely in the songzhuang art district. this rich history influenced the team at crossboundaries to site its micro park in celebration of the vibrant and communal spirit of the place.

image © bai yu

crossboundaries realizes its songzhuang micro community park to contribute to a new model of ‘art city.’ what was once a linear streetscape adjacent to a parking lot has become a lively and activated park that is versatile, inclusive, and in line with the communal ideas of the neighborhood. the team organizes the meandering walls to create a series of urban rooms, built of perforated brickwork in contrasting grey and yellow. the brick partitions are punctuated by integrated corten steel seating and ‘speaking tubes’ through which shouting and singing can be heard. meanwhile, mirrored elements create a playful visual effect.

image © bai yu

with its songzhuang micro community park, crossboundaries responds to a range of needs from a diverse group of visitors — the inclusive design with its variety of bright atmospheres encourages interactions between all age groups. crossboundaries’ co-founder dong hao comments: ‘the community park has proven a great success on bringing the district government agenda and investment plans together with a way of living that strengthen its own authentic heritage as a place for collective art and influence.’ co-founder binke lenhardt continues: ‘it is an important milestone in the songzhuang xiaopu art zone urban design development, being the first executed project of the masterplan and a valuable example of quality public space for well-being and social encounter.’

image © bai yu
image © yang chaoying
image © bai yu
image © yang chaoying
image © bai yu
image © bai yu
image © bai yu
image © bai yu