eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley

‘mentougou eco valley’ by eriksson architects, mentougou, china images courtesy of eriksson architects

helsinki-based studio, eriksson architects has completed their proposal for ‘mentougou eco valley’ in mentougou, china, a municipality located sixty kilometers west of beijing. the masterplan, currently awaiting approval from the chinese government would become an eco-silicon valley of sorts, filled with diverse contemporary structures that experiment with new materials, technologies and forms.

spanning 28 square kilometers, the development includes nine environmental research institutes and companies, one city center and several smaller residential villages. influenced by the surrounding landscape, the design would become an ecological urban area for some 50,000 inhabitants.

view of townhouse modules

planned in collaboration with finnish ecological experts eero paloheimo eco city, the masterplan combines modern science and innovation with an environmentally friendly and eco-efficicent outlook. positioned in a unique buffer zone protected by the mountains from noise and pollution, the development aims to maximize the potential of the land with a focus on housing and services.

research lab

learning from both the successes and failures of other eco cities, such as huangbaiyu, masdar and dong tan, the city will be capable of producing all of its own water, returning biological nutrients back into natural circulation, and boosting local agriculture.

module homes crawl up the side of the mountains

structures experiment with new forms, materials and technologies

commercial facility

buildings are positioned around vegetation and small bodies of water

research complex

transit hub

aerial view of multiple villages

aerial view of mentougou and beijing city

(left) density diagram (right) changing elevations

mountain-side residential development

housing typology / townhouse model

housing typology / wedge model

housing typology / terrace model