Suzhou Amusement Park To Close And Relocate

[Gutterflower]

Not often you get two park relocation stories in a day but following the news of Wild Wadi's imminent relocation Suzhou Amusement Park in the city of Suzhou, China has announced it will close at the end of the year.

The park will move to a new location in the west of the city while the existing park site is transformed into a beauty spot.

 

The park is home to one of the best looking SLC's out there (although it rides like the rest) which features the rarer modified layout as well. Unfortunately the concept art makes it appear that the parks main coasters won't be making the move.

 

A shot of the SLC in it's current location

 

Concept Art for the new park.

 

Concept art for the redeveloped current park location

 

 

Clearing work on the new site has begun with blasting being completed this month

The new site in the west of the city and can be seen here https://www.google.no/maps/@31.3259027,120.4740647,957m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

I'm not sure how i feel about this. The current location is gorgeous and the setting for the SLC is one of the best in the world. The park may not be amazing but I liked it when I was there. However on the other hand the new concept art does also look great too.

 

I'm not sure why they are making the move from a central location with metro access to somewhere beyond the reach of the current metro lines. Perhaps its space or exorbitant rent?

Further more it doesn't appear at least according to the concept art that either the SLC or the Shuttle Loop will be going to the new location. (although it is concept art)

I imagine this is in response at least in part due to the proliferation of large parks in the area (Wanda Wuxi is less than 30mins from the new location and Disney is within easy reach) and limited options for expansion at the current site.

 

The new park certainly looks nice but I will be sad to see the old park go even with its faults.

[SharkTums]

The biggest loss at this park will clearly be the terrifying Chinese Knockoff Small World ride!

 

[scbt]

Kuth Ranieri Architects transforms an abandoned roller coaster into an aviary in China

 

 

Some might say adaptive reuse is for the birds—in which case, San Francisco–based Kuth Ranieri Architects might happen to agree.

 

The office is currently working on an unexpected adaptive-reuse project in Suzhou, China—just outside Shanghai—with fellow Bay Area landscape architects TLS Landscape Architecture, with the aim of repurposing an aged amusement park at the foot of the iconic Lion Mountain into a central green for a new, technology-focused residential hub.

 

Shishan Park site plan. (Courtesy Kuth Ranieri Architects)

 

For the Shishan Park project, TLS has designed a district-wide master plan focused on a new circular promenade surrounding the old central lake that once anchored the forgotten fun park. The development is carved into ten subdistricts, each anchored by iconic pavilions—also designed by Kuth Ranieri—and recreational spaces “capitalizing on the site’s natural and man-made lakes as well as the mountain’s historic significance and beauty,” according to the architects. Overall, TLS’s designs highlight 18 “poetic scenes” that visually connect occupants to the existing lake, nature zones, and views of the five distinct mountaintops that can be seen from the site.

 

 

View of the aviary at the foot of Lion Mountain. (Courtesy Kuth Ranieri Architects)

 

At the heart of the new urban area is the disused amusement park and its original metallic roller coaster, which Kuth Ranieri plans to convert into a new, 160,000-square-foot visual and functional center for the 182-acre development. Utilizing stainless steel mesh netting to create the outermost enclosure and wooden decking and steel platforms for new occupiable promenades, Kuth Ranieri reenvisions the dilapidated roller coaster as a superscaled aviary. The plan includes a circuitous “infinity walk” that takes occupants up and through the reused roller-coaster structure to perches above the treetops furnished with viewing platforms and an expansive sky deck.

 

 

Kuth Ranieri plans to convert an old roller coaster outside of Shanghai into an aviary and nature center by adding new elevated walkways and stainless steel mesh netting to create enclosed viewing areas with broad vistas over the landscape. (Courtesy Kuth Ranieri Architects)

 

The complex can be entered from any one of three access points framed by glass-wrapped concrete parabolic arches that extend into the aviary as covered walkways. Within, the complex will also contain a ten-story circulation tower that can bring visitors up to the highest observation levels. Here, a wide staircase containing landings generous enough to host public programming will wrap the elevator core. The complex will also include a green roof–topped animal care facility.

 

The metallic enclosure surrounding the aviary is inspired by traditional Chinese ink paintings and, more specifically, by representations of Lion Mountain in such artworks. The cascading, rounded geometries of the canopy are designed to evoke “a feeling of layered misty mountains,” according to Kuth Ranieri.

 

 

Ground plan showing the converted roller coaster’s programmatic elements. (Courtesy Kuth Ranieri Architects)

 

The project is scheduled for completion in 2020.

[Nrthwnd]

Interesting way to re-purpose a coaster's framework. Chirp chirp!

[jedimaster1227]

An SLC becoming an aviary is a better use of an SLC... An SLC becoming anything other than an operating SLC is a better use of an SLC.

[Canobie Coaster]

^ The ones with the new vest restraints are actually enjoyable.

 

This is definitely a weird swapout turning into an aviary here.