SHANGHAI is undergoing dramatic changes in every daily aspect.Most visible in Architecture, as low class areas and old quarters aredemolished and replaced by fancy shopping malls or office high rises with aspeed unseen anywhere else.


There is kind of a consciousness for preservation, butno tools, rules or strategies are present. The rapid vanishing of Lilongcompounds, the historic city fabric, is the topic of this project. Since thecultural revolution hopelessly crowded and not fit for the 21 stcentury dozens of these dwellings have been destroyed and its tenants forced tomove to low standard suburban high rises.


My projects aim is to relocate the compounds overpopulationin a single new building, erected directly within the original compound.Thereby the original density is restored and historic buildings can berenovated. The original tenants stay and the city can preserve its valuablearchitecture heritage. The building further enhances the compounds qualities byadding missing parks and green area as well as public and communal space.


The project is based on a site specific research (conductedin 2004) and is a direct answer and result to the specific needs of itslocation and surrounding. However, the most interesting part of this project isthe process and concept as it can be applied anywhere else, following the sameguidelines and principles. The design of the building itself is completely sitespecific, based on the Lilong building type and therefore typically Shanghainese.

 

More information and detail about the process and background of this project here:

(And please click on everything you see on that site, there is always more than just one image)