Central Green Forest Park

From a contaminated industrial estate to a 5.5 sq km oasis of nature in the heart of Beijing, China. 

Since its first stage opened in 2020, Central Green Forest Park has fast become one of Beijing’s most popular green spaces, playing host to a vast array of recreation and education activities as well as cultural festivities. It is also an urban regeneration success story that has seen the ecological recovery of a brownfield site that was a former chemicals factory. 

Hassell was one of the three winning practices in the Beijing Government’s visionary international competition with a holistic scheme. Our main concept of a 24 season forest was a key direction for the design of the entire project. The masterplan proposed an innovative, dynamic forest framework of fast and slow growth trees that regenerates and heals the organic ecosystem, one that favours wildlife and enhances habitats. 

Our experiential and regenerative approach redefines the design potential for parks and botanic gardens as places where people and nature can thrive together. Central Green Forest Park empowers development through resilient ecological values while simultaneously catalysing discussions on sustainability, biodiversity and community-oriented public environments. 

Together with our consultants and partners, Hassell was responsible for the master plan for the entire 5.5 sq km site followed by the detail design and delivery for the Autumn and Winter sections of the Park. By showcasing diverse landscape types and seasonality, the design shares the country’s rich culture, history and natural bounty. 

Over 130,000 trees have been planted on the site. Different plants have been chosen to flourish during the various seasons, at mixed scales and density. With planned succession, this parkland will evolve from a ​‘designed forest’ to a near-natural one as the trees and planting mature. 

Once-polluted soil is gradually being rejuvenated through a process of phytoremediation, with the public gradually introduced to different parts of the park as areas become safe for visitation. As a result of habitat restoration and in a testament to ecological recovery, many indicator animals and birds have returned to the park, including hoopoes, owls and eagles. 

Interwoven throughout the Forest are activity destinations and outlooks that provide moments of surprise and delight. From bird watching areas, playgrounds, botanic gardens, sports fields, observation hills and sculpture parks, the tapestry of forest rooms offers endless recreation possibilities. Residents and visitors now flock to Central Green Forest Park to immerse themselves in nature and experience the beauty of the changing seasons. 

In 2022, the independent China Environmental United Certification Centre calculated that the carbon absorbed by the Central Green Forest Park’s trees and vegetation have neutralised 3,097 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas, helping to achieve a Carbon Neutralisation Certificate. Additionally, the Park’s 600,000 sqm of buildings use more than 40% green energy through geothermal heat pump and photovoltaics, which neutralise 11,556 tonnes of carbon every year.