Located opposite of Shenzhen and Hong Kong along the Pearl River, this land reclamation area has been designated as a new urban and coastal city development zone of 20-50 km2. China Merchant group requested a group of consultants lead by Waterfronts NL's Royal HaskoningDHV to make a proposal for a Conceptual Urban Design for the area. KuiperCompagnons brought to the team expertise in urban planning, urban design, landscape and architecture and introduced the implementation of the concept of “Building with Nature” and “Living with Water”. 
Sustainable urban developments, especially in coastal environments like the Cuiheng New District, can only be achieved if they meet fundamental conditions for sustainable water management. The project area is located in the estuary of the Pearl River Delta where erosion and sedimentation are critical factors behind the morphology of the landscape and determined the location and shape of the City of Islands. 
Each island of the City of Islands has a unique character and atmosphere. Each is different, but together they create an exciting variety of spaces and places. The dynamics of the fluvial and tidal flows create silting, and even mudflats in the Pearl River Bay area. Extended planning options are proposed on the locations where such silting and mudflat formation will occur. The expected mudflats can easily be changed into extensions to the islands. By creating these new or enlarged islands the City of Islands can ‘grow’ in a natural way.
