encouraging diversity
from underutilized and neglected…
Shanghai’s former French Concession was created as a zone of gated residential communities, with few working places. After the Cultural Revolution a host of “returned from countryside” factories were squeezed amongst the overcrowded housing to provide sources of employment. After the 1990’s introduction of a competitive market place most of these factories, operated by state owned enterprises, became unfeasible, underutilised and neglected. By 2004 the local government had re-zoned this site to enable the owners to demolish and redevelop their dilapidated compound.
…to utilized and cared for
BAU led the design and operation of this rehabilitation project. We proposed that all buildings be kept and preserved as markers of the country’s radical history. Beyond this the ad hoc building assemblages provide surprising experiences of space, form, place, and programmatic super adjacency. Fine building-grain is rapidly disappearing in the city and national building regulations prevent its recreation.
BAU created a mix of programs that enables working, dwelling, retail, food and beverage. Including working and commercial programs amongst the residences, enables the district to remain as self-sufficient village within the city, an increasingly necessary model in the current age of mega-city congestion. The programs are carefully sited to mimimise conflict. The rear building is pure dwelling. The central building is work only. The eastern building is work or dwell. And the western buildings house the potentially loud programs such as bars and restaurants.
The site has been made free of cars and has a public central plaza. The plaza is host to Shanghai’s renowned monthly Eco Market. The few new buildings have green roofs. One restaurant roof is a vegetable garden, with chickens, tended by the site caretaker’s family. Another provides space for local residents wishing to grow their own vegetables.
The office studio and loft apartment buildings have been insulated and their interior designs have low environmental impact with a focus on clean air quality.
vibrant and necessary
This project has become a focus of the vibrant community and a highly necessary place for living, working, and recreation.