Allen Jack+Cottier has secured the contract, through an international competition, to design a dynamic neighbourhood at Jin Sha Zhou in the Pearl River delta, Southern China.

Jin Sha Zhou is a developing area just outside the city of Guan Zhou, soon to be connected to Hong Kong via an upgraded freeway. Scheduled for completion in 2010, the 27-hectare site will integrate residential, retail and community facilities over four stages.

The design objective was to balance the pragmatic and civil requirements of the project while retaining a strong connection to the landforms and the natural environment. The terrain is hilly, and in parts, densely forested. There are also established waterways and aqua-culture systems - all of which have been retained. The masterplan links the residential zones back to the natural forest with a series of stylised seasonal gardens – spring, summer, autumn, and winter.