Step beyond the busy city and into Citrus Park — a place said to be home to nature’s spirits. Here, when pinecones fall, the whole forest stirs in response. The “Forest Isle Spirits” awaken, inviting all who seek freedom to discover the quiet secrets held within.
Project Name: Qincheng Park
Studio Name: ProA Design
Project Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
Project Completion Time: December 2025
Site Area: 47,984 m²
Photographer: Ah Qi
A Park Commercial Space That Breathes
In today’s urban landscape, commercial spaces are often treated as efficient pass-through systems: clear entrances, defined routes, quick transactions. People are guided in, then ushered out. True lingering has become rare.
ProA’s design for Qincheng Park did not begin with the question of how to amplify commercial appeal. Instead, we asked: in an area dominated by offices, could a commercial space become a public place people return to — and choose to pause in? Here, commerce doesn’t disappear; it recedes gently into the background, woven softly into the rhythm of daily life.
The “Forest Isle Spirits,” the project’s core IP, are not repeated as heavy-handed visual motifs. Instead, they are subtly integrated — at a turn in the path, within a rest area, along a textured surface — sometimes glimpsed peeking through grass, other times resting quietly, almost hidden in nature.
A Lasting Dialogue with Nature
During off-peak hours on weekdays, Qincheng Park isn’t defined by bustling commerce. What you’ll often see are quiet moments: someone sitting with their dog in the shade, another taking a quick phone call, or a visitor simply pausing to do nothing at all. These weren’t pre‑scripted “scenes”—yet the space welcomes them naturally.
Here, nature is more than just scenery—it’s an active participant in everyday life. Through design, we’ve extended the space’s narrative to the smallest gestures, so that every pause and interaction becomes a quiet conversation with nature. Take the pinecone‑shaped seats scattered across the sunken courtyard: they playfully echo the “sound of nature falling,” like treasures left behind by forest spirits, waiting to be discovered.
Within the woven canopy, two trees seem to chat through mushrooms, while soft, flickering lights convey nature’s own symphony. The Forest Isle continues to grow, allowing nature itself to become the moderator of the space. The design follows nature’s lead—creating order while respecting the environment—so that the space evolves organically over time.
Commerce as a Byproduct, Not the Goal
We envisioned the great lawn as a versatile, reusable setting. The Qincheng Stage, for example, isn’t just a performance platform—it’s an intentionally flexible space. When needed, it becomes a vibrant hub for brand events, community projects, or pop‑up exhibitions. On ordinary days, it blends naturally back into the landscape. The stage isn’t meant to constantly stimulate; instead, it offers adaptability, enriching the space’s long‑term vitality and allowing commerce, community, and culture to merge without clear borders.
Pet‑friendliness here isn’t an add‑on—it’s woven into the fabric of the park. From leash hooks beside benches, to the “Fuzzy Island” play zone for four‑legged friends, to gentle reminders nestled among the greenery—each touchpoint meets community needs while encouraging a more relaxed rhythm. This fosters spontaneous connections between people, pets, and nature. When engagement comes before consumption, commerce integrates more meaningfully—becoming a natural outcome, not a precondition.
