GroupGSA has hit the ground running since establishing its WOFE in Shanghai in early 2012. Headed by China Principal Alban Wong-Too-Yuen, with the support of international award winning urban designer, Dr Ying Rao from Sydney, the pair has already won 11 projects in 11 months for GroupGSA in China, with more in the pipeline.
The Australian firm, founded in 1979, by company CEO, Mark Sheldon, is a multi award-winning and integrated design practice, and is recognised as one of Australia’s top 10 design firms with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Shanghai.
Adding to its already extensive list of China projects is a 240,000 square metre mixed use development – Hangzhou
Xintiandi in collaboration with Hassell (China), and in Ningbo, a Cultural Centre, comprised of a theatre, a cinema complex, film studio and post-production facilities, two hotels and a retail complex. Both projects are currently under construction.
Xintiandi in collaboration with Hassell (China), and in Ningbo, a Cultural Centre, comprised of a theatre, a cinema complex, film studio and post-production facilities, two hotels and a retail complex. Both projects are currently under construction.Other notable projects include a complex of four theatres in Liaoning, a masterplan for a Greg Norman Golf and wellness resort in Luofushan, a masterplan for a 99km2 eco-city in Dalian, a masterplan for a 13km2 eco-town in Shuangtaigou, a masterplan study for a 60km2 of reclaimed land in Xiangshan and masterplan for a Wood Carving Expo city in Dongyang which will consist of a museum, retail precinct, hotel and residential developments.
But perhaps the crowning glory for the Chinese side of the business in 2012, was GroupGSA’s Diankou New Town Centre Masterplan – the only model cities representative project selected from China for the 9th International Shanghai Biennale 2012.
GroupGSA’s holistic approach to sustainable masterplanning is behind the winning entry.
Strategically situated between the economic regions of Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo, the new Diankou Town Centre is a 2.7km2 core zone development, located in the heart of the 107km2 Diankou Town in Zhejiang province.
Commissioned by the People’s Government of Diankou New Town, Zhuji City, the vision of the masterplan is to create a new town centre as the engine to transform Diankou town from a regional manufacturing base to a small ecologically sustainable city with unique post-industrial lifestyles.
GroupGSA’s proposed Diankou New Town Core Zone is inspired by a small city atmosphere and highlighted by the city’s branding image of the pearl, one of Diankou’s most prominent existing sustainable industries. The pearl symbolises the transformation and growth of Diankou town.
Located in between the high-density existing urban city centre and the natural ecology of the Baita Lake wetlands, the new town centre links nature across in the built form, capitalising on the landscape and land use along the central valley spine.
The existing cultural, industrial and natural heritage are celebrated and combined with new urban development, to form a unique “Diankou lifestyle.”
GroupGSA is very pleased with the outcome on Diankou. Whereto from here? “We are fully committed to our Chinese clients,” says GroupGSA CEO, Mark Sheldon. “We have laid down a sound foundation in China and our next step is to establish a significant GSA presence in Shanghai and grow the China business and replicate the achievements of our Australian offices.” ■
*PICTURED: Top to bottom: GroupGSA’s Ningbo TV + Film Cultural centre. GroupGSA’s Hangzhou Xintiandi project. GroupGSA’s Diankou New Town – the model cities representative selected from China for the 9th International Shanghai Biennale 2012.
For more information visit:www.groupgsa.com 
