Transforming a historic runway into a linear public realm, activating the site of a former airport, Nanjing Dajiaochang Airport Runway Park blends park, culture, and community in a dynamic mixed-use masterplan.

Reimagining a Former Airfield in Nanjing

CLOU architects has been invited by the Nanjing Urban & Planning Department to lead the transformation of the decommissioned DaJiaoChang Airport (1929–2015) into a new urban district centred on a linear park. The 187,196 square metre site preserves sections of the historic runway while reimagining its role as a civic connector and public gathering space.

The masterplan proposes an active pedestrian-oriented environment with a balanced mix of uses to support urban regeneration. A central design gesture, the reuse of the former runway, anchors the new district with a continuous open space for walking, leisure, and cultural programming. CLOU’s approach carefully integrates the site’s aviation heritage with future-facing development.

Runway as Public Catalyst

By preserving and activating the runway as a shared space for movement, culture and everyday life, CLOU’s scheme repositions the former airfield as a framework for future community-making. The linear park functions as a catalyst, shaping how people live, work, and connect across this emerging part of the city.

The Funway proposes a new relationship between infrastructure and public realm, where a piece of urban memory becomes the setting for the next generation of Nanjing’s growth.

A Mixed-Use Corridor for Public Life

The core of the project, known as The Funway, is conceived as a social spine lined with retail, residential, cultural and office spaces. This new linear destination is structured to foster constant engagement and flexibility over time.