‘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.

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley

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.

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley 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.

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley 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.

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley module homes crawl up the side of the mountains

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley structures experiment with new forms, materials and technologies

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley commercial facility

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley buildings are positioned around vegetation and small bodies of water

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley research complex

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley transit hub

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley aerial view of multiple villages

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley aerial view of mentougou and beijing city

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley (left) density diagram (right) changing elevations

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley mountain-side residential development

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley housing typology / townhouse model

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley housing typology / wedge model

eriksson architects: mentougou eco valley housing typology / terrace model