Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co., Ltd. (SSTEC) signed an RMB 13 billion agreement with Farglory Land Beijing (Farglory), the largest Taiwanese developer, to develop a gross floor area of 1.4 million square metre integrated eco community for nearly 13,000 households as well as a “play” hub for residents and visitors of the Tianjin Eco-City when fully completed in 2014.
The project was officially launched with the groundbreaking ceremony held on the same day. This groundbreaking event was graced by Mr. He Lifeng, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee, Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Binhai New Area (TBNA) Committee, Director-General of TBNA Administrative Committee, and also Chairman of SSTEC, other members of the TBNA Administrative Committee, Taiwan Office Affairs of the State Council, Taiwan Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Tianjin Municipality and the Tianjin Eco-City Administrative Committee, Chairman and senior management of Keppel Group, Tianjin Eco-City Investment and Development Co., Ltd. (TECID), Farglory Group and SSTEC.
Drawing on the unique foresights and vast experience of Mr. C. Y. Lee, the renowned architect who designed the ‘Taipei 101’ building, to personally undertake the design work, the project strives to strike the right balance between the preservation of traditional Chinese heritage and the celebration of modern eco-lifestyles. This signature eco development goes beyond the eco residential development of about 83-ha and attempts to convert the site of an old fishing village, the Qing Tuo Zi (QTZ) village, to an upmarket commercial development of about 20-ha, the largest commercial development as well as the cultural centre of the Eco-City which is co-located with its second LRT station.
In terms of innovative eco development, it juxtaposes the Chinese culture of harmonious co-existence with the elements of the nature such as water and wind with the modern eco solutions and technologies to create the desired sustainable environment – an eco sanctuary. The heart of the design concept is to draw in the nature such as the river and the canal that will flow into the Bohai Sea into the commercial centre via an innovative, semi-indoor water street that will harness eco technologies such as solar energy, wind and geothermal power to keep it from being frozen in winter in order to inject life and vibrancy into the Eco-City. Even for high-rise residential projects within the development, it will incorporate the traditional courtyard houses, which contain the wisdom of Chinese’s traditional eco lifestyle, into the design concept.
Beyond the preservation of heritage and cultures, the QTZ development will be the Eco-City’s “play” hub. This recreational and entertainment hub will include a cultural centre and entertainment centre along with retail outlets, garden-dinning concept F&B outlets, a resort hotel, and even an eco fishing village with a harbour. The first phase of development consisting of the commercial street will start in late 2010 and is estimated to be completed in end 2011. When fully completed in 2012, it is estimated that the QTZ commercial developments will serve 100,000 people in the Eco-City over the medium term and can attract people from Tianjin City, Beijing and even Hebei.
Mr. Goh Chye Boon, CEO of SSTEC said, “We are confident that this collaboration with Farglory to develop the QTZ village will create an unique value proposition that will not only cater to the needs of our residents but also draw visitors from near and far to become one of the Eco-City’s main tourist attractions. This infusion of modern ideas and solutions with the Chinese rich tradition of harmonious living will create an integrated commercial and residential development that will stand out from the other developments of the Eco-City and Tianjin Binhai New Area (TBNA)”.