Design trio get Olympic park nod ( 2003-11-19 15:04) (People's Daily)
Three landscape layouts were
named top finalists for the Forest Park and the Central Zone at the Olympic
Green from the seven designs proposed, a jury said Tuesday.
The selections came after a two-day expert appraisal, officials with the
Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning said.
The three designs include layouts jointly created by the US Edaw Inc and
China Architecture Design and Research Group, one by the US Sasaki Associates
Inc together with the Beijing Tsinghua Urban Planning Design Academy, and one
put forward by the Beijing Turen Landscape Planning Design Institute.
The final design will be decided by Beijing's municipal government after
local residents vote, starting today through Friday at the Beijing International
Convention Centre, said Li Xiaojiang, jury president.
Li did not reveal the date for when a final design decision will be
announced.
Covering an area of some 700 hectares, the Forest Park will be built into a
green belt for Beijing residents' entertainment and recreation, as well as for
improving the city's environment, said Yao Ying, vice-director of the urban
planning commission, one of the organizers for the landscaping appraisal.
The 160-hectare Central Zone focuses on areas on the two sides of the Central
Axis running through the Olympic Green.
A total of 51 designs were submitted by applicants from a dozen countries and
regions, including the United States, Australia, Britain and Japan, sources
said.
In another development, the Turin 2006 - Beijing 2008 Forum was held
yesterday in Beijing.
Turin, the capital city of Italy's Piemonte Province, which will host the
2006 Winter Olympics, and Beijing, the host city of 2008 Summer Olympics, are
seeking more co-operation opportunities for the Olympic preparations.
The Italian side said they are trying to seek business opportunities among
Beijing's bid-winning groups. They are hopeful negotiations might begin with
such organizations as Beijing State-owned Assets Management Company, the
proprietor of the National Stadium and National Swimming Centre, and Beijing
Urban Construction Group Company, the proprietor of National Gymnasium and
Olympic Village, officials said.
