Connected Harmony

Coastal city illustration with green parks, buildings, boats, and a forested area by the shoreline.
  • Modern building courtyard with colorful paths, stairs, glass walls, and people walking and interacting.
    Connected Harmony
  • Coastal city illustration with green parks, buildings, boats, and a forested area by the shoreline.
    Connected Harmony
  • Elevated walkway above bird-filled wetlands, with people birdwatching and walking on a trail below.
    Connected Harmony
  • Market with colorful stalls, people walking, a seated group, trees, and vibrant greenery.
    Connected Harmony
  • Illustrated park scene with people and colorful geometric structures.
    Connected Harmony
  • Park with a pond, reeds, fish, a heron, people relaxing, walking a dog, and interacting near steps.
    Connected Harmony
  • A modern workspace with a large robotic arm and people collaborating near a glass building.
    Connected Harmony

Team:

Students: Jonas Halsted, Benjamin Allen, Tyler Kuzel, and Hailey Schaaf

Faculty: Yujia Wang
 

LARC 310 / Fall 2025

Connected Harmony envisions a renewed future for the Zhifu District that reconnects coastal heritage, urban fabric, and community identity.

Rooted in Yantai’s maritime history, the proposal responds to challenges of coastal vulnerability, rapid urbanization, and fragmented public space through an integrated and forward looking approach. Guided by five fundamental rights including Growth, Sustainability, Community, Accessibility, and Experience, the design prioritizes long term resilience and social well being.

Growth is understood not as unchecked expansion but as thoughtful development that supports economic vitality, cultural continuity, and opportunities for personal and collective growth through education, interaction, and public life. A responsive coastline restores native ecologies and strengthens climate resilience, while reorganized mobility networks and pedestrian first corridors reconnect neighborhoods long divided by infrastructure. Public spaces such as an enhanced Binhai Square and cultural anchors serve as catalysts for identity, engagement, and daily life. Together, these strategies cultivate a district where culture, ecology, and urban life operate in harmony, shaping a resilient coastal environment grounded in opportunity and connection.

List awards earned

ArchDaily Student Project Awards - Longlist