Riverside Chinatown Heritage Park | Employing Ancient Practices to Connect a Modern Community
Grace Pan
This project transforms a series of overgrown, eclectic lots into Riverside Chinatown Heritage Park, a community park project that integrates ancient Chinese Feng-Shui design principles with modern societal and site-specific needs to create an inclusive space that connects, heals, and educates the community.
About Grace
Landscape architecture beautifully blends science and art, but what I cherish most is the human element—collaborating on designs, coordinating across disciplines, and engaging with communities and nature. My background in biochemistry has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the intricate systems that underpin our environment. This scientific foundation informs my approach to landscape architecture, where understanding ecological principles enhances the spaces I create.
Additionally, my humanitarian work in China exposed me to diverse cultures and the profound impact of the built environment on communities. I witnessed firsthand how thoughtfully designed landscapes can uplift and empower people, fostering connections and memories. Landscape has the unique ability to weave together past, present, and future, transforming abstract concepts of time and space into tangible experiences. This storytelling resonates deeply with me, as it enables the creation of spaces that nurture both personal and collective histories, ensuring that they serve as lasting legacies for generations to come.