Shenzhen Baishizhou Urban Village Study: Elements for Collective Publicness by Bengüsu Cebeci

Shenzhen Baishizhou Urban Village Study: Elements For Collective Publicness

KU LEUVEN FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE SINT-LUCAS GHENT 2020-21 MAIG 34 Design Studio Shenzhen: Urban Villages by Martine de Maeseneer

Bengüsu Cebeci Shaimaa Daweri Eglè Drungilaité An Gelan Bert Lescouhier Miquel Vilalta Flo Lin Xiang

CONTENTS Elements for collective publicness

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

RESEARCH

The urban village of Baishizou in the megacity of Shenzhen

An introductuon to Shenzhen and Baishizhou with a detailed analysis of the context and site

VISION AND GROWTH

INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS

INSIDE OUTSIDE THE HOUSES

The individual projects with a short abstract

by Lin Xiang

123

159

193

BREATHING HANDSHAKES

STREETSCAPE

COMMON STORIES

by Bengüsu Cebeci

by Bert Lescouhier

by Miquel Vilalta Flo

219

249

273

HIDDEN SPACES

THE GREEN CORRIDOR

THE URBAN WINDCATCHER

by Eglè Drungilaité

by An Gelan

by Shaimaa Daweri

Our vision for Baishizhou including a bussinessmodel and masterplan

293 CONCLUSION

Preface This booklet is made as a response to the disappearing urban villages in Shenzhen, China. Our project is a motivation of why the urban villages are of value in the modern megacity of Shenzhen. The project was realized in the 2020-21 maig34 studio: ‘Shenzhen: Urban villages’, by Martine De Maeseneer. This research started with a group of KU Leuven international students who went to summer school in Shenzhen from 7 14 September 2019. The master studio adapted the same program last academic year 2019-20. This year our research group consists of 12 students. Later in the research we each found our personal interest and as a result of that our group was divided in two. This project was made by 7 students eager to learn about the mix of cultures, bottom-up urban planning and the life in the villages itself. Our research and project site is located in the upper part of the urban village Baishizhou.

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Introduction Made in China China, known for its rapid growth, large population and thriving economy. Since the economic reform in 1976, China has grown at an unseen rapid pace. Currently, they are the world’s most populous country with 1.4 billion inhabitants. They are known for their highly diversified production of goods and are the largest exporter worldwide. We can’t escape the ‘made in China’ products. Without a doubt, China has the fastest growing economy in the world and they are not planning on slowing down anytime soon. With such economic power comes the rise of enormous megacities. Megacities are characterized by the number of inhabitants (+ 10 million people) and the density (+ 2000 people/sqm). These cities thrive to be the most modern and most economic so they can compete with other megacities in the world. China has 8 megacities and Shenzhen, where our urban village is located, is one of them. The emerge of urban villages Due to the rapid growth of the new city and the lack of space, Shenzhen has swallowed up all the pre-existing rural villages which has caused visible tensions. The urban inhabitants, living in the megacity, look down on the rural parts the city has taken over. They see the rural villages as outdated, something that doesn’t fit together with the new vision authorities have put forward. They believe that the rural villages are from the past and they should be demolished. We would like to prove otherwise. These rural villages have transformed together with the city into dynamic urban villages which provide an interesting mix of inhabitants, socio-economic activities and an unique bottom up urban planning. The regeneration of Baishizhou To support our statements for the preservation of urban villages we’ve analysed and introduced projects in Baishizhou. Because Shenzhen is trying to upgrade from a manufacturing industry to a knowledge based industry, there is an influx of different kinds of migrants. The urban village of Baishizhou is known for providing cheap housing, not only for the poor blue collar workers but also for highly educated students and workers. These different inhabitants create a social and cultural mix which brings an interesting element to Shenzhen. Why aren’t these unique urban villages included in the future vision of Shenzhen? Authorities and white collar inhabitants living in the modern city would prefer to ignore these urban villages. Because of this, the living conditions in Baishizhou are really poor. Even though the village is surrounded by gated communities, big skyscrapers, parks and high-tech factories, they have decided to isolate the urban village in hope that they will disappear soon. The issue is way more complex than it seems by this brief introduction. We would like to inform you on the many layers of Baishizhou and the richness that lies in these villages.

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Research Reasearch and analysis of Shenzhen and the urban village of Baishizhou. As (future) architects it’s important to take a close look into the context to understand the total picture with a sensitivity for history, location, policies and cultures which has created an unique urban landscape.

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Introduction to Shenzhen From rural swamps to a high-tech metropolis in only 40 years. Known for it’s ‘Shenzhen speed’, Shenzhen has become a dominant player in our global economy and isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

elements of collective publicness

Introduction to Shenzhen

“The new Silicon Valley”

CHINA

Kazachstan Mongolia

North Korea South Korea

People’s Republic of China

Nepal Pacific ocean

Bhutan

India

Guangdong province

Myamar

Japan

1,441,812,741 inhabitants 145,3 inhabitants/km² 9.596.961 km² 60.8% lives in urban areas GDP 13.6 billion USD (1st) 6.6 % GDP growth a year Chinese Yuan 1 Yuan = 0.15 USD Average annual salary 82,400 Yuan = 12.360 USD

Shenzhen

13 billion inhabitants 5963 / km²

Key industries in Shenzhen

The People’s Republic of China is known for being the most populous country in the world. With it’s 1.4 billion inhabitants and fast growing economy they play a dominant role in our world today.

Russia

2050 km² Annual GDP growth +/- 20%

GDP Shenzhen 2.4 billion USD

Average annual salary 239,000 Yuan

High-tech industry

Logistics

Finance

Culture related

Shenzhen is the third most populated megacity of China. The city has grown at an unbelievable pace. In onlly 40 years, Shenzhen has transformed from a fishing village to a world dominating high-tech hub. Because of the city’s good location, it forms a part of the Pearl River Delta Megapolis. It’s maritime borders and connection to Hongkong have made Shenzhen the ideal testing ground for the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Because of the SEZ (established in 1980) the city could attract a large amount of foreign investments. The city drew people in from all over China and Hongkong, to build and work in the megacity of Shenzhen that we know today.

Special Economic Zone

The Benefits within the SEZ for (foreign) businesses 1. Three to five-year tax exemptions for manufacturing and operating sites by high-tech enterprises. 2. Five-year business tax exemptions for foreign banks.

MAP OF SHENZHEN

3. Value-added tax (VAT) and tariff exemptions for imported materials used for finished products 4. Equal living rates for foreigners and local citizens.

Dongguan

Huizhou

6. Immunity from state quotas or permits for production. 7. VAT exemption for goods made and sold locally. SEZ 1. Farmland and villages

South Chinese Sea

Hongkong

Baishizhou urban village

They are starting to create small industrial developments around the urban core

3. Expansion

4. Current situation

“The migrant city” Originally, Shenzhen cosisted mainly out of farmland and rural villages. When they started to (re)develop the urban area, there were a lot of new workers needed to build this modern megacity out of the swampy rural area. As the city has grown, it has attracted a new type of migrants to work in the manufacturing industries and later in the high-tech industry. Currently, there is a mix of migrants: factory workers, students, highlyeducated employees and foreigners. Future vision of the modern megapole Shenzhen By 2025 Shenzhen wants to be known world wide for its technology and innovation. They want to invest a lot in R&D to create a modern and sustainably city. “Innovation” is their key word.

Shenzhen

Special Economic Zone Urban villages

Shenzhen consisted mainly out of farmland and villages with a small urban center

South Chinese Sea

Hongkong

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2. Industrial development

Border with Hongkong

The industrial development keeps expanding and many rural migrants start moving to the city in hope for better job opportunities Urban center

Rural villages

Industry

Urban villages

The urban area keeps expanding into a modern skyscraper city. The rural villages get dominated by the city and transform in to urban villages

By 2035 Shenzhen will be China’s international showcase as a “modern, innovative and socialist megacity”.They strive to be the capital of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. By 2050 Shenzhen will be one of the world’s top cities competing with all other big players. By that time they want to have world influence.

Timeline of Shenzhen’s development Shenzhen – from rural village to the world's largest megalopolis

No urban area in history has become so large so quickly than Shenzhen. A little more than a fishing village in 1979, by the 2010 Shenzhen registered 10.4 million inhabitants. It is easily the youngest urban area to have become one of the world's 26 megacities. In 2017, the Chinese Communist Party also had to take action about the reform, therefore Xi Jinping identified deepening reforms as the next stage. The ‘Greater Bay Area’ was announced within this concept, melting the Pearl River Delta into a single metropolis of unprecedented size. January:

A Central Inspection Team established the issue of creating a foreign trade port in Bao'an County;

1 October:

Qing Dynasty: Xin 'an county boundaries back to Dongguan, county recovery;

Tang Dynasty: set the local government in the town of Nantou;

Human activity was from more than 6,700 years ago;

Prehistory to Qing era

214BC

Qin Dynasty: went under the jurisdiction of the established Nanhai County;

757

1573

Ming Dynasty: dissolved Bao’an County to establish Xin’an County, based in Nantou;

Founding of the People’s Republic of China;

Qing Dynasty: Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island were ceded from Xin'an to the British in the Treaty of Nanking and the Convention of Peking;

19 October: the People's Liberation Army was stationed in the Baoan County;

Modern period in China

1669

1840

1842

Qing Dynasty: China lose a war against British in 1840, signing the Treaty of Nanking;

1911

Response to the Wuchang Uprising: Xin’an residents rebelled against the local Qing administration and successfully overthrew them;

Images to record the development of Shenzhen

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1958-1961: The Great Chinese Famine was characterized by widespread famine;

December: Deng Xiaoping become the top leader and started the policy, Reform and Opening up;

May:

Deng Xiaoping visited Shenzhen for the first time and affirmed the "speed of Shenzhen", "time is money, efficiency is life" and the development model of special economic zones;

December:

Shenzhen Stock Exchange was established to provide a platform for centralized securities trading;

New China Period, before 1978

1949

1953

Bao’an County government decided to move to Shenzhen;

1958

the State Council approved the Shenzhen SEZ to promote Shenzhen's administrative management system, economic system,independent innovation system and mechanismetc, etc;

January:

December:

Shenzhen's GDP surpassed that of Guangzhou for the first time, ranking first in Guangdong province with A GDP of over 2 trillion Yuan (20,07.859 billion Yuan);

14 October: The 40th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone has been held in Shenzhen; Xi Jinping, secretary of the COMMUNIST Party of China Central Committee, encouraged Shenzhen to continue its reform and opening up;

After Reform and Opening up

1978

1950s-1970s: Shenzhen oversaw a huge influx of refugees trying to escape to Hong Kong;

1979

23 January: The name of Baoan County was changed to Shenzhen; 31 January: the Central Committee of the Communist Party approved a plan to establish the Shekou Industrial Zone;

1984

1987

September: The lead in the trial of compensated transfer of land use,reforming of the state-owned land use system;

1990

1992

January: Deng Xiaoping made a southern tour and delivered an important speech in Shenzhen, speeding up reform and opening up;

2008

2015

April: the Shekou Industrial Zone and the Qianhai Zone were integrated within the newly established Guangdong Free-Trade Zone;

2017

2019

2020

The development plan of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area was published by the CPC Central Committee and The State Council ;

City densities Beijing 1312p/km² Xuanwu 38 303p/km² Hohhot 170p/km² Shijiazhuang 700p/km²

Harbin 200p/km² Changchun 370p/km² Shenyang 640p/km²

Taiyuan 600p/km²

Jinan 850p/km²

Urumqi 240p/km²

Wuhan 1200p/km²

Yinchuan 730p/km² Xining 300p/km² Lanzhou 3986/km²

Hefei 633p/km² Nanjing 3183p/km² Hangzhou 554p/km²

Zhenzhou 1300p/km²

Shanghai 3823p/km² Huangpu District 43 435p/km²

Chengdu 6500p/km²

Nanchang 700p/km²

Lhasa 531p/km²

Changsha 1400p/km²

Guiyang 580p/km²

Guilin 170p/km²

Kunming 320p/km²

Xiamen 2077p/km² Xiamen Island 14 097p/km²

Guangzhou 2000p/km² Shenzhen 5963p/km² Futian 17 255p/km² Nanning 330p/km² Macau 21 340p/km² St. Anthony 111 636p/km² China as the most populated country in the world, has cities and city parts with an immense population density, especially in the coastal region the population is astronomical. A country where is estimated that in the next 5 years 300 million people will move to the city it is important to take into account that huge flux of people. However when making we cannot lose our perspective

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Taipei 9918p/km² Daan 27 418p/km² Fuzhou 306p/km² Shenzhen 5963p/km² Baishizhou 250 000p/km² Honkong 7140p/km² Kowloon city 381 352p/km² on human comfort an liveability in the cities, that is why we propose to keep the density of baishizhou which is now around 250 000p/km² and far over the average in Shenzhen and also one of the densest places in the world, and show how a insanely dense neighbourhood like that can trive and be an example for the rest of china and the world.

Land use and urban expansion There are three types and of parks in Shenzhen -The forest parks which is an important part of the ecological resource protection system in which construction prioritizes protection. -City park which is important part of the urban landscape that can provide rest, travel, exercise, and communication services. -Community park the nearest open space that provides public services for community resident

Shenzhen was the first Special Economic Zone in China. As its economy has developed quickly, this area has experienced rapid urbanization in the last two decades, changing from a traditional agricultural region to a fast-developing urban region. A previous study showed that in 2005, approximately 39.3 % of the total land was urban area, up from only 3.06 % in 1986.

Forest Park City Park Community Park River

1995

2000

2009

2012

Non-urban Urban Forest Natural water

Land use data of Shenzhen for the simulation of urban expansion 20

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Orchard land

Swamp land

Forest land

Unused land

Developed land

Grass land

2003

1996 2006

Water

Eight types of land cover in Shenzhen

Distribution of Parks in Shenzhen

1990

Cropland

Woodland Cropland Wetpland Water body Build up

2000 Woodland Cropland Wetpland Water body Build up

2004 Woodland Cropland Wetpland Water body Build up

The actual land use map of 1996 2000 and 2004 21

Weather in Shenzhen

Climate summary

Shenzhen, is located on the Pearl River Delta in southeastern China and has an area of 195,284 ha. The area has a southern subtropical monsoon climate, and its mean annual temperature is 22.4 °C, with a mean annual rainfall of 1,948 mm. The rainy season in Shenzhen is April to September. its climate is majorly influenced by the monsoons.

The wind rose for Shenzhen shows how many hours per year the wind blows from the indicated direction

Average wind speed

The weather is characterized by mild, moderately dry winters and hot, humid summers.

This section discusses the wide-area hourly average wind vector (speed and direction) at 10 meters above the ground.

Average Monthly Rainfall Rain falls throughout the year in Shenzhen, the average rainfall(soildline).

Average high and low tempreture The figure shows a compact characterization of the entire year of hourly average temperatures..

Average hourly Temperature The day average high (red line) and low (blue line) temperature. The thin dotted lines are the corresponding average perceived temperature.

Humidity Comfort Levels The percentage of time spent at various humidity comfort levels, categorized by few dew points.

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Sun path Sunrise/sunset Sunrise Today Sunset June solstice December solstice Annual variation Equinox (March and September)

Average WaterTemperature

Sun path diagram

Wind rose

Cloudy, sunny, and precipitation days

Wind speed

Shenzhen is located near a large body of water. This section reports on the wide-area average surface temperature of that water.

Tourism score The tourism score (filled area) and its constituents; the tempearture score (red line), the colud cover score (blue line) and the percipitation score (green line).

Background of Baishizhou The urban village of Baishizhou is located in the Special Economic zone of the megacity Shenzhen. Surrounded by skyscrapers, the newest infrastructures and the rich higher class, Baishizhou has a hard time trying to survive in the metropolis. Yet, Baishizhou has many benefits which are of value to Shenzhen.

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The location of Baishizhou

Baishizhou 150 000 inhabitants 0.6 km²

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Accessibility and proximity of Baishizhou

10 min walk

5 min walk

Train

Bus

Shenzhen High Technology Park Golf Clubs, Tech Markets etc. Old Industry Zone of Baishizhou Tangtou Old Village Lunapark & Greenpark Ski Center & Miniature Sculpture Park

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Timeline of Baishizhou Baishizhou, an organic conglomerate of five smaller urban villages, has for decades served as an enclave of cheap housing for migrant workers and immigrants who have helped support Shenzhen’s rapid economic growth. But the days are numbered for the teeming tenement neighborhood, home to about 150,000 people: Long-awaited demolition plans have finally begun. Founding of the People’s Republic of China

1949 1958

Reform and Opening-up in Shenzhen

1970s

Shenzhen government planned to found the Shahe Overseas Farm, in order to produce more grain;

Baishizhou had begun to suffer from a growing population and inadequate housing, so the villagers built their own.

Chaoying People’s commune was founded;

1978—Shahe Primary School;

1980

brick houses began to be built in the mid-1980s;

Shahe Group has developed the commercial real estate

1985

1990

Shahe farm was divided into the Overseas City Conglomorate and Shahe,a strange unit of five villages – Baishizhou, Xin Tang, Tangtou, Upper and Lower Baishi;

The Shahe industrial zone in Baishizhou was raised funds by villagers and planned by Shahe Group;

Before constructing of Overseas Chinese Town, all around was a field with weeds;

Female Employer working in the workshop;

Shenzhen government intervened forcefully to prevent villagers from building their own houses 2005

The upsurge in the construction of self-built houses by local farmers ;

Baishizhou Renovation Project passed 2018

GBA has founded;

2019

Original housing welfare of distribution nature in Shenzhen changed to the commercialization of housing;

Shenzhen government approved the old renovation project of Baishizhou, which will be demolished and rebuilt;

Real estate development were around Bahishizhou;

Demolition logo was printed on the wall;

First built in 1985 and then added two floors above it; Big harvest in summer;

Overseas City Conglomorate first built;

The materials were stone and yellow mud;

Overseas City Conglomorate first built; Background was Baishizhou;

Tangkou Old Houses began to be constructed by local villgers;

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Interior furniture and daily necessities of brick houses began to be multiple;

1988— Dormitory of Workers;

Generally are 7-8 storeys; dense building layout;

Construction site for building demolition;

Shahe Road, which was connected to Shennan Avenue;

The social analysis Living in Baishizhou

Migrant workers accomodation

Demographics Shenzhen

Since the growth of Shenzhen, we’ve seen a striking amount of rural-urban migration. The rural migrants leave behind their agricultural past and come to Shenzhen in hope for a better life. They find employment in factories, construction sites and service sectors. Almost 70% of inhabitants are migrants and most of them live in the urban villages. The Hukou system The Hukou system is a system of household registration used in the mainland of China. Every citizen is registered under a rural Hukoou or an urban Hukou. If you have a rural Hukou, you officially can’t be an urban citizen and you won’t recieve the same benefits. This is the case for many migrants in Shenzhen and other urbanized areas. They can’t rent housing in the modern part of the city and it’s forbidden for them to buy a house in urban areas. Almost all migrant live in urban villages to escape their Hukou status.

Dormitory 32%

Construction site 11% Factory 6% male 54,2%

industry/service

white collar

female 45,8%

business owner

other

Shared flat 21%

Rent an appartment 13% Self owned housing 1% Home 13% migrants 69,1%

rental 68,5%

non migrants 30,9%

housing ownership 30,9%

Others 3%

1ST MIGRATION

From an industrial city to a metropole SEZ

2ND MIGRATION

WORKERS

TECH RACE

+ TECH DEVELOPERS

MANUFACTURING BASED CITY

VILLAGERS

MAKERS

EDUCATED YOUTH

KNOWLEDGE BASED METROPOLE

Originally, we saw rural migrants comming to shenzhen to work in the labour intensive factories. Over the years, Shenzhen has tried to upgrade itself from a manufacturing based city to an knowledge based megacity. This has caused an influx of a new type of migrants: students and highly educated employees. The manufacturies get moved to the suburban area of the city and make place for high-tech developments.

Oversaturated urban fabric Due to the rapid economic development, Shenzhen and the urban villages have experienced a social, economical, cultural and architectural transformation. “The big city” has swallowed up all the open space and rural villages on its path. “No more buildable space” Shenzhen has ran out of buildable space for urban expansion but at the same time their is still a big influx of new inhabitants. They start to focus their spatial development on existing build-up areas: the urban villages. Megacity vision If the government and powerfull upperclass had it their way, they would completely demolish the urban villages and replace them with new formal urban neighborhoods characterized by skyscrapers and other modern infrastructures. There will only be space for the urban Hukou and the migrants and lower class will have to leave the city.

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Before Rural villages with farmland

Problems in Baishizhou Poor living conditions No time and space for leisure No interaction between locals and migrants Barrier by cultural differences

Exclusion of Baishizhou The government has neglected the two most vulnerable groups: the poor inhabitants and rural migrants. They see the urban villages as a “management problem”. For the local residents, urban villages are considered “backward places” which no longer fit in the modern megacity. They look down on migrants and try to exclude them from all the urban activities. Because of their Hukou status they are rejected from all official urban residences. On top of that, migrants don’t have time and money to enjoy the cities (expensive) facilities and are excluded from social activities as well. They only use public transportation to go to work and return home to the urban village.

Housing conditions Factory workers, students and new higly educated employees all live in Baishizhou because of the cheap rent. Unfortunatly, they live in really bad conditions. They are overpopulated, over developed and lack basic infrastructure. The urban villages have a building density higher than 70%. They are composed out of multi-story buildings, small alleys and no public space. There is barely any natural light in the small living units. Because of the little space, the hygienic conditions are really bad. Above that, a lot of migrants only live there temporarly which makes it hard to build social relationships. It’s an unhealthy environment, physically and mentally, to live in. The migrants are isolated from the rest of the city, with little to no space for leisure or social interaction. Inhabitants of the urban village try to hide in their small and dark “homes”.

Large income gap

Rejection, bad living conditions, isolation and lack of social relationships have caused migrants to suffer from mental health issues. How can we improve the quality of life in these urban villages? How can we reduce the gap between locals and migrants? How can we change the modern city’s future vision?

No equal rights A lot of crimes

Benefits of Baishizhou Current situation The modern megacity has grown over the rural villages. The villages expanded into dense urban villages with poor infrastructure and unqualitative space.

Future vision* The modern megacity has destroyed the urban villages. They’ve done a complete tabula rasa and started building new skyscrapers that’s of the same scale as the urban area.

The urban villages are associated with bad living conditions and something old and worn out from the past. They face demolition and are dominated by the modern city. Yet, these villages provide a lot of benefits for the city. They are one of the liveliest parts of the city and provide economic possibilities for newcomers in the city. Without urban villages, where will all the migrants and newcomers go? Instead of demolition, we should strive for new urban planning strategies to improve the quality of life in these urban villages. In return, the urban village will be a dynamic place, where you can enjoy activities that aren’t an option in modern Shenzhen. Everyone, migrants, non migrants, blue collar and white collar can interact with each other. This way Shenzhen can grow into a modern and sustainable metropole with qualitative space and an array of activities for everyone.

Cheap housing Vibrant street life : shops, foodstalls and markets Mix of different cultures Economical opportunities for newcomers Good location Potential to grow with the city when they get some extra care Basis for a good community Bottom up development

Spatial analysis Research on street level in Baishizhou that shows the connectivity, typologies and interactions which create a dynamic but chaotic streetscape.

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Spacial Syntax INTEGRATION This study measures the amount of transitions needed to go from one street segment to all the other street segments the network, using the shortest path. The analysis shows (in red) the street segment which are linked with all other street segments in the fewest amount of turns. The regions in warm colours are the most integrated part of the city network, shown in cold colours are the least integrated areas. You can see on the image to the right that most of the urban village is fairly well integrated apart form some regions in the south, north east and east. This has to do with the fact that those regions are limited by the walls of gated communities around them.

The most integrated road in red is also the main route in Baishizhou, connecting the street markets, Tantou square and the surrounding neighbourhoods all together. The Picture on the left shows us how the urban village is integrated in its immediate surroundings. Here it still shows a decent integration into a bigger urban structure. This analysis however is to small to see how Baishizhou is integrated in the whole of Shenzhen However it shows us some important areas, where we can take advantage of, the main most integrated road going across the urban village, gives opportunities to lure people into the urban village. Also the same less integrated regions of the smaller study show up in this analysis. But here you can find even more and less integrated areas in the urban village to the south shielded away by highways and industry and in the south east surrounded by huge gated communities.

These less integrated areas should be looked after, these spaces can become an important working point in the resurrection of Baishizhou. These regions make or break the reputation of the village from safe to unsafe, from dirty to clean. elements of collective publicness

LIVING STREET SCAPE

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2 1 9 & 10 7 6

IMAGE 1 Tantou old village, now in decline, but a strong cultural and architectural aspect of the local rural village and Shenzhen as a whole. Like a clearing in the forest the old village gives some rest and openness to the immensely densely populated urban village. The place will be reserved and restored to its former glory and provide a central point in our design.

IMAGE 2 Busy roads can be found all over Baishizhou, but one area stands out the most, the crossroads between two major market streets where all the local villagers get their groceries. One road leads straight out of the urban village and can be seen as an exit, the other however is narrow and leads deep into the urban village itself.

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This particular building’ a florist stands out in the urban village. The green flourishes on the facade and porch but has also taken the power lines by. In a city district as dense as Baishizhou it can be physically and mentally relaxing to encounter places like this, the greenery creates for a cooler, cleaner and more comfortable space in the heart of Baishizhou.

In - many spaces the village is “visibly” and physically blocked of from other neighbourhoods. In this specific area the border lies between the village and a big road, this can be seen as a positive border, but the physical connection with the street is completely lost. This connection to integrate the village into the city is necessary without destroying the existing green border.

Street typologies

Shahe Streets

Vehicle Accessible Streets

Main street passing by urban village. Two way street with wide pedestrian pathways and commercial and public buildings surrounding it. Width 12 meters.

Streets that are accessible by all means of transportation. Buildings surrounding these streets have commercial ground floors and used by street vendors. Width ~ 12 meters

Main drawbacks

- Unorganized parking clogs the street - Fences cut off community relationships physically and psychologically - Sidewalks are messy and lack public facilities

- Uneven pavement and sidewalk profile creates chaotic environment - Poorly defined streets profile and is inconvenient for vehicles and pedestrian

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- Lack of urban furniture and space organization

Commercial Streets Streets that are only accessible by pedestrians and cyclist. Surrounding buildings have commercial ground floors and used by street vendors. Width 4 - 6 meters

Main drawbacks - Lack of openness for circulation and expansion - Public infrastructure is poorly organized and leads to sanitary problems - Segregation between front and back side of the building

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Handshake Streets Streets that are only accessible to pedestrians and cyclist. Buildings surrounding these streets are mostly residential. Width 5 - 0,5 meters

Main drawbacks - Lack of public infrastructure and greenery - Hard elements and fences break continuity and blocks open spaces - No activities or destination points

CHAOTIC STREET SCAPE

VIBRANT STREET LIFE

Streets in Baishizhou are divide in two types, the bigger streets going trough the whole village and the smaller streets going deep into the urban villages. The first type are mostly big enough for one or two cars and some pedestrian areas along the side. The later are pedestrian and sometimes motorcycle only streets.

Because of the immense density of Baishizhou housing itself is as small as possible, this keeps cost down and density high. Consequently life is organised in the public realm. The open spaces are used as markets, extension of private space, for shops and restaurants, for people hanging their clothes to dry,... in the city everything apart from sleeping and showering is done in the public realm. The public spaces becomes the cambre next to the anti-chambre of the small apartments of the inhabitants

The big streets are organized in two big parts, first of all the asphalt road and elevated pedestrian areas made out of bricks on the side. Those pedestrian areas are mainly used as outdoor seating for restaurants and cafés and as extra selling space for shops.

This spill-over from private life into the streets make Baishizhou a very lively space. People cooking, playing, washing on the street, it gives a huge sense of a tight community. But this also creates a

lot of chaos and even crimes. The village can seem unwelcoming and unattractive for outsiders. You feel like stepping into

someone’s home crossing a private boundary. Walking into their personal space

The pedestrian areas are elevated one to three stairs high in comparison with the car road. This gives a clear road hierarchy. Despite that their are still problems, mainly coming from the lack of space on these pedestrian ways and the chaotic, unplanned nature of its existence, pushing street vendors and pedestrians on the road an so nullifying the hierarchy it creates, and providing a lack of cohesion in the urban village scaring away tourist and outsiders from neighbouring city parts.

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T H E

Vibrant street food

Food as an instigator for social interaction, as a show piece of culture, and as fuel source.

Selling fresh vegetables to make a living for yourself and the family

Using the street as a window for your products and service

Baishizhou is known for its many opportunities when it comes to a food related market. Food is a major site in the streets of Baishizhou, from street markets to street vendors and people enjoying their meals on the sidewalks. This is mostly visible in the bigger streets going trough the village, and is enjoyed by locals and surrounding neighbourhoods. But food isn’t only limited to the big streets, it can also be found in the smaller streets all around Baishizhou, their the foreigners don’t come that often, and is it more based on the local villagers of the surrounding blocks. All this comes in different sides and shapes into the street life bringing along a whole array of portable street furniture. This furniture is mostly made ore used creative from home made carts to display food on, tables, chairs and even buckets than function as a table or a chair. This makes the public space extremely diverse, and asks for the maximum amount of flexibility. Every inch of the urban village is used for some kind of activity ranging from retail to restaurants to more private activities. Living in Baishizhou is living on the street, visiting Baishizhou is connecting with that environment and taking advantage of the interesting street life.

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F O O D V I L L A G E

Hunan | Sichuan Cuisine People bringing a small slice of their heritage in the big city. Eating in Baishizhou is eating all over China. The dishes of Sichuan cuisine are known for their deep and rich flavours, especially the taste of Sichuan pepper which is rare in other regional cuisines

Star anise

Chilli

Sichuan peper

Garlic

Sichuan hot pot

Shallots

Uyghur cuisine

Uyghur food, a mix of everything, from Kebab to noodles, use of vegetables to mutton, fish and rice. But most of the dishes are created in the traditional halal way.

Carrot

Chilli

Tomato

Celery

Kebab

Cantonese Cuisine Local food is also a big market in Baishizhou, well know in the neighbouring city-parts for its good and cheap fish restaurants. What distinguishes Cantonese food is lightly cooked fresh vegetables and meat, and sweet sauces.

Coriander

aniseed

Sugar

Ginger

Soy sauce

Hoisin Sauce Oyster Sauce

Food and restaurants as an important indicator of social life in the urban village. Food from all over China can indicate the origins of the immigrants catering to the needs of their own people, using what they know. Looking closely at the cuisine we can determine the main inhabitants of Baishizhou. Local Governments are somewhat in the dark when talking about the ethnicities living in their neighbourhoods.

Building analysis Research on the building level which shows the spatial distribution and building typologies.

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Building functions

Building functions Around 69% of all buildings are only residential buildings of average 6,3 floors. Only 1% of buildings have other functions like schools, hospitals and ect. 30 % of all buildings have business related spaces. ~ 1075 Buildings in total

Buildings with commercial function

Residential buildings

Other functions

Types of Business Most common type of business is retail followed by service for instance cleaning service. Another common type is catering. There are several business related to entertainment and software or technology but so far it only takes 7% of total business types. This typology is most likely expand in the near future

Retail 42%

Service 27%

Catering 24%

~ 287 Business related buildings

Other 7%

Size of Business ~ 1500 m of business area 2

Most of the business are 10 to 20m2. Rarely business area is greater than 30 m2. This is because most of the accessible ground floor area is shared by a few businesses without opportunity for it to expand in the same location. 0-10 m2

10-20 m2

20-30 m2

>30 m2

Example of business

Spatial distribution Buildings around vehicle accessible and main pedestrian streets contain commercial ground floors. Less accessible buildings are only residential. Historical houses of Tangtou village are located in the centre of the area. There are several healthcare and education facilities around. On the north of the village is Handshake 302- art residence exploring urban villages possibilities.

Spatial distribution legend Buildings with commercial function

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Buildings for education

Healthcare buildings

Building typologies All buildings in Baishizhou share common patterns; That is because they were built in a relatevly short period of time, and under almost the same circumstances. After evaluating the entire area, we focused the analysis on 2 streets (Tianhe Road in this page, Shangbaishi Street in the next), from which we can take the following conclusions.

Main streets: General Characteristics Since we are using as example two commercial streets, all the ground floor levels are occupied by shops. That is not always the case, since there are secondary streets that host exclusively residences.

Building typologies

If we take a closer look we can see that in some buildings the business is extended to the second level, but only in blocks that their side streets can host external stairs (see X). Tianhe Rd.

It’s worth noticing how the advertisements are completely blend with the buildings, being an unseparable part of the transition between ground floor and 1st floor

Shangbaishi St.

Type 1 Standard occidental solution

Rooftop typologies Even though all the roofs are flat -most of them being accesible to the owners- there are variations on their finishings. Combinations between the two types have proven to be possible as well, having the Roof type 2 first and adding a few mor flats over it before placing the Roof type 1

Type 2 Traditional perimetral solution

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Building typologies

Type 1 Arched Top Type A Squared tiles When the floor changes, a colored stripe is placed

Facade finishing typologies

Type C Rectangular tiles

The facades are all covered by ceramic tiles. It has the advantage of being cheap, and with good thermal properties. It also works as a waterproof layer for the building

Type B Square tiles + colored

Window protection typologies The vast majority of windows in the urban village are covered with metallic frames; although the main reason for it is the security of the dwelling, there could be more motives by which this solution is that much widespread. It also gives privacy while leaving the flat open to the exterior. It can be also a support in which the clothes can dry, or an extra enclosed space for storage, all depending on the needs of the dweller

Type 2 Displaced rectangles

A1 B2 C2 C2

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Redevelopment projects Redevelopment plans made by the government which are focused on the demolition of Baishizhou to expand their future vision of modern Shenzhen.

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Policies about the improvement of Baishizhou

Renovation project in Baishizhou

The overall plan for comprehensive Improvement of urban villages in Shenzhen (2019-2025) has been approved by the Municipal government.The renovation of urban village needs to follow this policy during this period.

Since 2005, the renovation news of Baishizhou has been fermented intermittently until June 2017, when the draft of Shahe Five Village Renewal Unit Planning was officially issued by Nanshan Administration of Shenzhen Planning and Soil Commission. This reform project, which has been tangled for more than ten years, finally landed.

(Translation:) The renewal of urban villages mainly focuses on renovation, integrating auxiliary facilities, functional changes, partial demolition and construction, etc. Through microtransformation, the necessary public space and supporting facilities in urban villages will be increased, the space quality will be improved, the living environment will be improved, and the housing security will be strengthened.

第七条

综合整治分区划定分区划定目的

通过全面摸查全市城中村用地边界、用地规模、建设情况和改造实施情况等具体信息，合理确定城中村居住用地保留的规模，划定综合整治分区，给予社会明确预期。有序引导各区在综合整治分区内开展以综合整治为主，融合辅助性设施加建、功能改变、局部拆建等方式的城中村更新（以下简称“城中村综合整治类更新”）。通过微改造的绣花功夫，增加城中村内必要的公共空间与配套设施，提升空间品质，改善人居环境，加强住房保障。第八条

分区划定对象及其规模

综合整治分区划定的对象是全市城中村居住用地，扣除已批更新单元计划范围内用地、土地整备计划范围内用地、棚户区改造计划范围内用地、建设用地清退计划范围内用地以及违法建筑空间管控专项行动范围内用地。综合整治分区划定的对象总用地规模约 99 平方公里。第九条

分区划定原则

综合整治分区应当相对成片，按照相关规划与技术规范，综合考虑道路、河流等自然要素及产权边界等因素予以划定。综合整治分区内单个地块面积原则上不小于 3000 平方米。位于基本生态控制线、紫线、历史风貌区、橙线等城市 4

DEMOLITION AND REDEVELOPMENT SITE PLAN

第二章

Among them, the most eye-catching unit is the Urban Renewal Unit of Shahe Five Village (i.e., Green Landscape Old Renovation), which is also called the Old Renovation Aircraft Carrier of Shenzhen due to its large size. The plot is bounded by Huaxia Street in the east, Shennan Avenue in the south, Shahe Street in the west and Xiangshan West Street in the north.

Legends

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Renovation Zones Demolition Zones Tracks and Stations

Land for Development and Construction Land for Public Service Facilities Land for Low-income Housing

Remarks

Total Area for Renovation: 480148.0 m² Demolition Area: 459542.1 m² Development and Construction Area: 303793.7 m² Public-interest Project Area: 155748.4 m², including 11729 m² for low-imcome Housing

The renovation proposal of Baishizhou has been approved by the special planning. The project is positioned as an urban complex dominated by residential and commercial functions, with functions such as public supporting facilities.

Plan Plan of Space Division and Index of Space Division and Index

Legends Residential Land(R2) Commercial Land (C1)

Kindergarten Nice-year School Residential+Commercial (R2+C1) Clinic Business+Residential (C1+R2) Community Health Service Education Facilities (GIC5) Cultural Activity Center Greenland (G1) Refuse Transfer Station Tracks and Stations Electricity Substation Public Pathway Sanitation Workers’ Lougue Demolition Zones Nursing Home Renovation Zones Community Sports Zones Development and Construction

Public Service Facilities Low-income Housing

List of Plot Control Index Community Administration Police Station Community Police Office Service Center Community Food Market Bus Terminal Public Toliet Day Care for the Elderly Post Office

The total renewal area is approximately 480,000m², while demolition area is 459,500m². The used area for construction is 303,800 m², which the construction area is 347,960 m². In the future, 1.25 million square meters of residential space will be built in the renovated area (including 50,000 low-income housing units), 1.045 million square meters of commercial, office and hotel buildings, and 1.12 million square meters of commercial apartments. Based on a rough calculation of 84 square meters per unit in Shenzhen in 2016, the supply of nearly 15,000 units will be increased.

Master of Site Master Plan of thePlan Renovation Project

List of Main Technical and Economic Indicators

Legends

Renovation Zones Demolition Zones Development and Construction

Public Service Facilities Low-income Housing

Office Entrance Business Entrance Business Apartment Entrance Residential Entrance

Land Code Land Property

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Baishizhou 5 villages Urban Regeneration Research Studio: URBANUS, Shenzhen, China Category: Urban Design & Research Principal Architect: Meng Yan, Liu Xiaodu "To further explore the issues of urban villages, URBANUS launched the research on the regeneration of Baishizhou Five Villages in 2011. URBANUS tries to study the development of post urban villages and the typologies of hyper density architecture so as to propose a development plan that is creative and responsive to social conditions and future needs. In this research, we studied the urban fabric of Baishizhou and adopted the strategy of reallocating the architectural space based on functional zones. In addition, URBANUS studied the typologies of hyper density architecture specific to each zone and included the typologies of new compensation housing, innovation apartments and super high-rise buildings. Particularly, URBANUS proposed to set a buffering zone in between different zones in order to release more urban space as well as to explore new ways to preserve the buildings in urban villages. Baishizhou Five Villages Urban Regeneration Research is the starting point to a series of research on development models in post urban villages and we hope to use this research to explore a new model for re-urbanization in the context of urban heterogenization." --introduction by URBANUS

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Conclusion of our analysis preservation above demolition

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SWOT analysis

THE PRESERVATION MANIFESTO

STRENGTHS

WEAKNESSES

VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC PART OF THE CITY

BAD PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

CHEAP HOUSING

POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

ISOLATED FROM THE MEGACITY

PROXIMITY TO FUNCTIONS

NO SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

UNIQUE URBAN FABRIC

TEMPORARY INHABITANTS UNSAFE FEELING AND CRIMES

In the blink of an eye, Shenzhen has become a leading metropolis that keeps growing everyday. Rural farmers make place for the high-tech city and it’s new inhabitants. In only 40 years, Shenzhen has become the home of laborers, manufacturers, developers, scientists, entrepreneurs, students and anyone hoping for a better future. With it’s 69% migrant rate, Shenzhen is known as the migrant city. The rapid urban expansion has caused a very interesting urban fabric. As previously mentioned in our analysis, the urban villages are surrounded by the hyper modern metropole which causes many different, but interesting, tensions between the two identities. Because of the rapid and unique urban development in combination with the large influx of migrants, urban villages have become the center of diversity. There is a mix of different cultures, types of inhabitants, shops, food, activities, ... the list goes on. There is a dynamic streetlife which you can’t find in the ‘modern’ part of Shenzhen.

Pictures of inhabitants petitioning to stop the demolition of the neighborhood by Theodore Kaye

Why aren’t we aiming for reconversion instead of demolition? A complete tabula rasa would solve the issue of ‘bad infrastructure’ and seems like the easier option. But clearly, this intervention would wipe out an area which provides so many opportunities for it’s inhabitants and has such a richness of culture and activity. Demolition would only be beneficial for the rich upper class but it would be a big loss for Shenzhen.

OPPORTUNITIES

THREATS

BOTTOM UP DEVELOPMENT

GENTRIFICATION

URBAN RESEARCH

LACK OF SPACE FOR URBAN EXPANSION

TOOLBOX FOR URBAN INTERVENTIONS

URGENT DEMOLITION PLANS BY THE GOVERNMENT

RECONVERSION INSTEAD OF DEMOLITION

HIGH NUMBER OF RELOCATION URBAN FLIGHT BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES

We as architects play an important role in urban planning. Urban planning is very delicate. A small intervention can lead to a big change. It should be done with a certain sensitivity instead of a tabula rasa approach. That’s why we’ve chosen to make a detailed analysis of Baishizhou and developed interventions on different scales to advocate for urban villages. Our individual projects (the following chapters in the booklet) act as a tool to preserve and upgrade Baishizhou, but can also be applied to other villages. Our booklet is a manifesto for preservation, not only for the urban villages, but all urban areas with a certain value which are in danger of being lost as a result of rapidly growing cities. Haven’t we learned from our mistakes yet?

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Medical tea seller ni the market of Baishizhou by Theodore Kaye

Billiard tables in the narrow streets with food delivery scooters passing by Frank Wang

Vision and Growth Our urban planning proposal focussed on preservation and reconversion of Baishizhou with an appreciation for the unique urban fabric. The vision consists of a bottom-up development that grows out of different phases.

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Economic model and future growth vision Residence Level With its proximity, dynamicism and improved infrastructure the urban village will become an attraction for the upper and middle class as well. COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL RETAIL

RETAIL

RETAIL & COMMERCIAL

Sky Street Level

PHASE 3

Growing city will require additional street levels which support the existing wholesale, retail and commercial activities.

Future Vision

Production Level Production level will contain modern factories, makerspaces, tech hubs and implementations for urban agriculture.

PRODUCTION

New Rooftop Level Rooftops will become more active through integrated solutions.

MOTELS ACCOMMODATION

CHEAP HOUSING

STUDENT DORMITORY

HOTELS

towards a hyper-metropol city

By improved publicness and infrastructure Baishizhou will create the potential to grow into a hyper metropol. A production centered village will bring all classes of the society together and create an attraction for living in Baishizhou. Through this, a slow, steady transformation will allow all parties to write the future of Baishizhou together.

PHASE 2

Handshake Level Handshake Towers will be preserved and renovated by protecting the idea of affordable housing for all and will have residential services as well as new suitable programs such as dorms or co-housing.

project focus

Connection Level

COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL FOOD 70

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TOURISM RETAIL

Connected new floors will bring back the focus on community.

Street Level Street level will have dynamic commerical activity, enhanced public ground and historical tourism by promoting Tangtou Old Houses.

PHASE 1

rebuild buildings

communal rooftops

First two steps further detailed as individual projects will act as a foundation for the future development of the village. In this was village can expand vertically without interrupting genius loci of the village but addressing need of the future living

production spaces

co- housing units

communal spaces

open ground floors

Second step is to adjust current buildings to new living standard by opening ground floors for business, first floors to for communities and other floors adjust as co-housing units to accommodate more people and give them better living conditions

residential expansions

Phases of growth

project focus

Current situation feature handful of problems that contributes to downgrading image of urban village as well as spatial,social and economical problems. To address these problems we created a series of interventions to change image of the urban village

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future expansion

additional greenery

and

improve built environment

proximity

public infrastructure

uniform street profile

central destination point

communal spaces

greenery

and

public

improve public space

limited business growth

poor housing quality

segregated streets

patchy street profiles

current situation

First step is to improve public space. It will act as a starting point to improve living conditions and well being. By redesigning public condition we aim to attract attention to the value of urban villages and lay the foundation for the further needs

Guidelines and policies Policies Set of policies should be implemented over the time to ensure cohesive and inclusive development of urban village and prevent gentrification.

Project guidelines

Remove hard boundaries

Incorporate greenery as much as possible

Following guidelines are kept in mind while detailing each part of the project and for the further development of the urban village

Hard boundaries as fences and walls fracture communities. Removing them will open new spaces for people to gather

Green spaces are absent from the urban village now. Incorporating it in the design will have positive effect for microclimate and image on the space

Eviction policies Ensure that landlords can only evict with proper cause, such as failure to pay rent or property destruction Community reinvestment Set of regulations allowing financial institutions give benefits to low and middle income people who want to invest into local properties Short term rental regulation Only a small percentage of housing can be redeveloped into short term accommodation to avoid gentrification Local reinvestment Percentage of the rent revenue must be reinvested into the well being of the building

Connect with the surrounding areas

Reconversion above demolition

Multi-functionality of spaces

Segregated areas increase social segregation as well as have lower chances to develop successful business. Connecting surrounding areas will strengthen social and economical stability

Demolishing buildings is an easy but not environmentally friendly development method. Reconversion above demolition will lower CO2 emissions and embraces value of existing structure.

Multi - purpose use of space allows spaces to be flexible and adapt alterations without additional investments

Community driven business Businesses could get incentive for employing locals Inclusionary zoning Land use regulation mandating a percentage of the housing units be affordable to people of low incomes Subsidies for green renovation strategies Government support for renovation - passive or green innovations could add extra value Local hiring Programs that require that a percentage of jobs created by a commercial development go to local residents

Proximity of functions

Street furniture as organizer

Passive strategies for climate regulation

Community land trust New buildings run on co-op ownership model run by various stakeholders to increase ownership of low income groups

Walkable city eliminates need of motorized transportation allowing functions to be reached with in a short distance

Public space infrastructure construct cohesive and qualitative locations for people to enjoy

Passive climate regulation will adjust micro-climate inside and outside the village with minimal investment and maintenance

Developer contributions Requires new commercial developments to contribute fees to the development of affordable housing, community services and infrastructure

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The masterplan Implementation of our vision

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circulation and development strategy

Back Bone Street

Extension Of Current Streets

Wide pedestrian alley surrounded by commercial open ground floors serves as a main circulation direction trough out the village

Extension and conversion of current vehicle accessible streets will expand business and create secondary circulation across the village

Secondary Network

Redefine Borders

Additional circulation will activate spaces in residential areas and create more quite circulation route.

Soft borders with additional greenery will ensure car circulation around the village not trough it and softens transition from outside to the village

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intervention tools

Renewal of Tangtou

Courtyard / wind catchers

Facade conversion

Intervention tools To support redevelopment and circulation strategy we developed series of intervention tools. Reconstruction of old Tangtou houses to new interest point will attract further investment and interest to preserve other parts of the village. Reconstructing public space and close environment such as street profile and adding greenery will upgrade quality of life for a further development. Intervention in the existing building structure and fabric will add more opportunities for connection between building and community ad well better living conditions.

Open Ground Floor

Connected First Floor

Co-housing

Redefine Close Environment

Continuing Street Profile

Green Connections

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Intervention places

Open Ground Floor

Connected First Floor

Renewal of Tangtou houses

Continuing Street Profile

Open ground floors are located around the main pedestrian circulation alleys to expand walkable area and add opportunities for business to expand

Communal first floors are open around the back bone street and inserted around squares in the residential parts to create communal centres

Old Row houses of Tangtou village will act as a new central meeting point for a village

Uniform street profile follows pedestrian circulation guiding people trough the village and creating homogeneous look

Redefine Close Environment

Green Connections

Co-housing

Courtyard / wind catchers

Public infrastructure in the close environment around residential buildings will organize and add communal functions to the village

Green corridors and interventions to the street profile embrace secondary circulation routes attract people for a recreational walk in the village

Sharing living spaces spread next to communal green squares and Tangtou row houses creating more vibrant living environment

Development of passive strategy follows a part in the north part of the village

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Masterplan

Location of the individual projects

Specific projects and their relation and location on the masterplan

We see the renewal of Baishizhou as a phased proces in need of interventions of different scales. Step by step we would evaluate how the urban village would respond and grow according to the adaptations that have been done. Next to the intervention tools and intervention spaces, we’ve each introduced a project responding to different problems that occur in the village. The projects are located on one of more locations on site as a pilot project. Each project has been designed that they can be implemanted in many urban areas, not only Baishizhou. Each project has been designed with a sensitivity for a certain problem and can hopefully bring a solution to many urban issues that we face today.

Connecting first floor

By adding a communal layer to the first floor connected to the backbone street we will create extra public space. We will have communal areas on different levels in Baishizhou.

Streetscape, p 159 by Bert Lescouhier BUILDING LEVEL

Renewal of Tangtou Village

The historical row houses of Tangtou village will be restored and this will become the central meeting point for inhabitants and visitors. Shared living spaces will surround this new, green and vibrant area. Hidden spaces, p 219 by Eglè Drungilaité

Redefine closed environments

There is a lack of public space in the dense urban village. Because of the more open infrastructure we can enhance and redefine open spaces in to qualitative public spaces that are safe and pleasant. Living around these open and bright public spaces will enhance the urban villagers living quality.

Breathing handshakes

Inside outside the houses

DAYS AT THE COMMUNAL FLOOR. PHOTOCOLLAGE.

Common stories, p 193 by Miquel Vilalta Flo

The urban windcatcher Creating green connections

The enhancement of the infrastructures creates opportunities for experimenting with greenery in the dense village. We reconnect the green borders with the village by removing hard concrete bordering walls. Breathing handshakes, p 123 by Bengüsu Cebeci

STREET LEVEL

Uniform street profile

By reconverting the small alleys that are also connected to the main streets we create a uniform, safe and pleasant street profile which guides people through the village. The buildings surrounding this enhanced infrastructures will benefit from this. Inside outside the houses, p 89 by Lin Xiang

Streetscape

Opening up the main streets

Hidden spaces

By widening the existing busy streets and alleys we enhance pedestrian movement and provide more light and openess to the surrounding buildings.

Common stories

BAISHIZHOU

The urban windcatcher, p 273 by Shaimaa Daweri

Existing situation

Dark, dirty and unsafe streets surrounded by houses lacking basic infrastructure. Baishizhou isn’t a healthy living environment which now fears demolition.

The green corridor The green corridor, p 249 by An Gelan

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Introduction to the individual projects

Common stories, p 193 by Miquel Vilalta Flo

The following chapters include all our individual projects. Starting from our group research, we’ve each developed a sensitivity for a certain topic, all focused on public space. Together we’ve created a framework with main principles that give us a strong basis to build or projects on. Later, we have discovered that there are many possibilities to create an urban design. That’s why it was important to us to explore all different ideas and develop them according to our personal view. We’ve created an array of different interventions, each with their own scale and unique qualities. Each project is adaptable and can be implemented in all urban contexts which proves us that a mix of different urban interventions can work together to create a dynamic, healthy and vibrant urban environment.

Through habilitating the second floors of some key buildings, new and open spaces are created. This gives us the opportunity to create and extra layer of public space in which locals can share their everyday life.

DAYS AT THE COMMUNAL FLOOR. PHOTOCOLLAGE.

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Inside outside the houses, p 89 by Lin Xiang

Hidden spaces, p 219 by Eglé Drungilalté

The story starts from the Tangkou Old Houses, carrying the memories of several generations of indigenous villagers. With the old houses crumbling and handshake buildings around grabbing the land, it’s time to change the existing situation. We take measures to renovate old houses, optimize the layout of buildings, open the street level, as well as create collective spaces. This new stage of life is about to open and more interesting stories will happen inside and outside the houses.

Spaces in the residential parts are lacking light, greenery and a definition of functions. By identifying unused space between buildings and replacing them with a greenery project we can redefine residential streets into a healthy, safe and green environment that stimulates social interaction and public activities.

Breathing handshakes, p 123 by Bengüsu Cebeci

The green corridor, p 249 by An Gelan

This project is aiming to reveal the linked potential of the existing vivid street life and dynamic commercial activities on the ground floors by tackling the two major problems of life in Handshake towers. Keywords of the project : natural lighting, rainwater collection, street connectivity and interior connection.

Baishizhou is enclosed by hard concrete walls isolating them from the rest of Shenzhen. This border is not only a physical boundary but also a social boundary, separating the urban villagers from other city dwellers. The green corridor transforms the hard concrete border in to a permeable boundary. The green corridor project is focussed on re-connecting space, people and greenery by using vernacular principles on an urban scale.

Streetscape, p 159 by Bert Lescouhier

The urban windcatcher, p 273 by Shaimaa Daweri

The street will be used as a tool for an unified urban village, the continues use of brick will bring attention and a curiosity to the village. Pathways like rivers connect big street with smalls allays, and lead the users deep into the village, showing hidden spaces, lost gems and secret ways through Baishizhou. They will highlight the village and aim for a cleaner and more organised whole, luring people inside.

The main idea is to cool the city by using the principle of wind catchers, inside the open spaces which are connected to small alleys between buildings. This way the unused open spaces will be transformed into pleasant public courtyards. The wind catchers can be seen as a tool to cool down the courtyards and the village but it also acts as an unique public landmark. The urban windcatcher in combination with the courtyards will create a unique experience in side the central patio.

Inside Outside the houses Stories start from the Tangtou Old Houses, carrying the memories of several generations of indigenous villagers. With the old houses crumbling and handshake buildings around grabbing the land, it’s time to change the existing situation. We take measures to renovate old houses, optimize the layout of buildings, open streets level, as well as create collective spaces. The stage of life is about to open, more interesting stories will happen inside and outside the houses.

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“Cities, Grow in Difference” --Theme of UABB, 2017

“Shenzhen is the place where lots of people come to reinvent their identity” --Architect Thomas Tsang

Urban Village is a new style of spatiography that arises in the new production and consumption links in the process of globalization. Urban villages are not concrete villages, it should be called an “extreme”: It does not point to anywhere, it is just an abstract point, and it just happens to be in Shenzhen or it can happen anywhere in Africa. This “point” can link all flows of the world like production flow, information flow. --Architect, Yuxing Zhang

Tangtou Old Houses, Shenzhen

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Site Analysis

Problem AnalysisMaterials:

The design site is located around Tangkou Old Houses, central area of Baishizhou. Open Space

Material Analysis

If viewing the city from the air, Baishizhou looks like a typhoon in a satellite cloud picture. The Tangtou Old houses, meanwhile, are the tropical cyclones of the typhoon, and all the buildings are arranged Materials: around it. When visiting the base, deficiencies of the current Tiles situation are obviously noticed, mainly from the following four aspects.

Existing and traditional materials should be focused. Tiles Wood is a preference, since it is environmment-friendly, also the warm feeling to users. Existing Materials: Yellow Mud

Street & Alley Infrastructure occupies the transportation node;

Yellow Mud

Tile

Yellow Mud

Concrete

Plan and Facades:

Alley is messy and narrow, difficult to guide residents passing through;

Tangtou Old Houses

Built in 1958: 9*3.5 m in each room;5 rows of housing, totally 90 rooms.

Fences are constructed arond some private buildings, not accessible somewhere; Plan and Facades:

Plaza Space were occupied by some buildings,vehicles, etc; Without public facilities or platform for people to interaction or entertainment;

Handshake Building

Tangtou Old Houses Utility rooms were built in front of houses; 5

Partly dilapidated houses: some bearing capacity of the structure hardly meet the normal use of the requirements;

1980s - 2000s: --Private utility rooms are built in front of a building; Built in 1958: --Toliets 9*3.5 m in each room;5 rows of are moving the the south, housing, totally 90 rooms.outside the old buildings; --the second floor terrace were inserted in order to increase space area; 1980s - 2000s: --Private utility rooms are built in front of a building; 2013 September: Traditional Local Materials: --Toliets are movingand the the south, outside the old buildings; --C Grade Dangerous House --the second floor terrace were inserted in order to increase space area;

2013 September: Red Brick House --C Grade Dangerous

Black Brick

Wood

Stone

Bamboo

Poor living environment: the domestic garbage dump is placed at the back of houses;

Handshake Building

Site 9 2

New Materials or Technology:

High density with inhabitants in every building; Homogenized, buildings lack of own features;

Buildings are short of sunlight and natural wind flow, not livable and ccomfortable;

Glazed Brick

Glass Brick

Titanium Zinc Panel

Aluminum Alloy

Glass

3 4

Infrastructure is ageing, while the wires and electricity cables are everywhere;

Layer Diagram of Site

elements of collective publicness

Lack of entertainment space, inhabitants would like to site outside their houses;

Granitic Plaster

Objectsinin the the Renovation ProjectProject Objects Renovation

Implemmentation Implemmentation Phases Phases in Urban in Urban Villages Villages Implementation Phases in

Handshake buildings have taken up the majority space in the village. On the other hand, the Tangtou Old house, as the only historical building remained, records the memories of the indigerous villagers. Different levels of collective space integrate various elements into a livable and comfortable whole.

Immigrants Rapid Development in Shenzhen

e y

Immigrants: first choice about the living space;

Indigenous Villagers/ Landlords

Government

For the profit, houses were poorly built and over-crowded in urban villages

Good Location of urban village: in the city centre, accessible around the city

Short of sufficient sunlight and ventilation. They are generally unsafe

Government and Developers are seeking for the land value

Urban Villages

Starting from the living infrastructure, following the upgrade of the living environment in handshake buildings. Finally to create a tourism brand of the life mode in urban villages, showing the diversity of the Shenzhen city. Phase Phase 1 1 Environment Environment Upgrade Upgrade

Regulation/ Regulation/ Policy Policy Government Government

Village Village Community Community

Existing Existing blocks blocks will be will designed be designed to open to open the street the street and and design design moremore interesting interesting collective collective space. space. These These helphelp to increase to increase the the accessibility accessibility around. around.

Phase Phase 2 2 Building Building Testing Testing

s More demands for renting rooms or operating stores in urban villages

Uncomfortable living space

Proposal / Strategy Proposal / Strategy

Making full use of land and creating more profit

Developers Developers

Villagers/ Villagers/ Landlords Landlords

Architects Architects and and developers developers will interact will interact withwith landlords. landlords. Some Some stratestrategiesgies are applied are applied to upgrade to upgrade the living the living and and collective collective space, space, as well as well as as dealing dealing withwith the high-density the high-density problem. problem.

Issue

Renovation of Handshake buildings

Phase Phase 3 3 Expanding Expanding

System Selling System Selling Villagers/ Landlords Villagers/ Landlords

Developers Developers

AfterAfter the the renovation renovation of the of the building building is feasible is feasible and and profitable, profitable, moremore and and moremore landlords landlords are are willing willing to upgrade to upgrade theirtheir houses houses to be to more be more livable livable and and comfortable. comfortable.

Collective Space ？

Architects Architects

Renovation of Tangkou Old Houses

Phase Phase 4 4 Tourism Tourism industry industry

Cultural Heritage Cultural Heritage Government Government

Developers Developers

Once Once the the infrastructure infrastructure and and livingliving space space upgrade upgrade better, better, cultural cultural heritages heritages could could be used be used and and developed developed in the in tourist the tourist industry. industry. Urban Urban villages villages are are a special a special existence existence to show to show culture culture and and livingliving stylestyle in in Shenzhen. Shenzhen.

n n Occupying a large area in urban village

elements of collective publicness

Built in 1958, now is partly dilapidated

Remain memory of history in urban village, kind of chinese style

Entrance & Store Property

Analysis of Store Property

There are two pedestrian ways to the Tangtou Old Houses. Firstly, walk along the back bone street on the north, turning around to the back of houses and passing through two handshake buildings. Otherwise,they are accessible from the main road on the south. By observing the streets and buildings, ground floor along the street are all used as commercial. It is an universal phenomenon that 2 to 4 stores can be accommodated in one building. If buildings are hardly adjacent to the main road or alley, the ground floor is for private use. The upper levels can be rented by immigrants. Therefore, land has been used compactly, with a dense living population. N N

D24 D30

D34 C11 H6

B16

B15

G13

B15

D27 A3 D26

C10

D25

B10

D23 E

D22

G10

B13

G12

D33 D32

D31 B12

D20

B11

C11 D15

G13 C6

B14 B5

D28

B4 B13

G12

D29

D33D10 D32 D11

D9 F5A1

D31 B12

D8 D7 B11

G11 G3

F3 C10

D27 A3 D26

G10

H1 C9

D19 G6

B2 G9

G1 B9

D20

D11

H3 C3

D18

H4 G7

G4 D18 D17

G1 B1

D12

D13 D16

D19 G6

B1 B8

D6 D5 D4

D3 D2 D1 D24 D23 E D22

D12

D10 D15

B10

D14

D25

G8 D21

D13

H3 C3

D14 D17 G5

D41 D42 H9

D41 D42

D48

G16 H9 D47

D48

D46

G16 D47

D45 D46 B24

D44

D43

B23

D45 H7

B22

C14 D35

C15

D44

G14

B24

D36

C13D43

A4 D37

B23

D38 H7

B22

B17 C14

H8 D35

C15 D39

D36

G15 D40G14

C13

C16 B18D38

B19 B20

D37

B17

B21 H8 D39

G15 D40 C16

B19 B20

B18

B21

Property of Stores along the Back Bone Street

elements of collective publicness

Hotel 4 3.25% Hotel

Grocery 24 19.51% Grocery

4 A--Hotel 3.25%

24 19.51%

A1 River Hotel A2 Hotel A3 Shennan Hotel A--Hotel A4 Xinhua Hotel A1 River Hotel A2 Hotel A3 Shennan Hotel A4 Xinhua Hotel B--Grocery

B14

D6 D5 D4

C5 B16 D16

G11

G8 D21

D30

D28

D34

D29

The observation is to the stores before entering the old housing blocks, those properties as well as the quantities would be recorded. Figures clearly illustrate that the Restaurant accounts for the largest proportion with 38.21%. The second is Groceries, followed by Health/Beauty and Life service, slightly more than Electronic Product, Fashion Shop and Hotel, which is the smallest proportion. Health/Beauty 16 13.01% Health/Beauty

16 47 D--Restaurant 13.01%D1 Northeast Dumpling 38.21%

B1 Good Neighbor Store B2 Four Season Fruit Store B3 Double Happy Life Store B--Grocery B4 Meiyijia Store B1 Neighbor B5 Good 24 Hour Store Store B2 Fruit Store B6 Four Best Season One Furniture Store B3 Happy LifePot Store B7 Double Satisfaction Plant Shop B4 Fingxing Meiyijia Store B8 Fruit Store B5 24 Hour Store B9 Xing Hong Sheng Store B6 One Furniture Store B10Best Good Express Retail B7 Plant Pot Shop B11Satisfaction Chinese Dragon Retail B8 StoreStore B12Fingxing Xinhao Fruit Furniture B9 Hong Sheng B13Xing Vegetable Store Store B10 B14 Good Retail Express Retail B11 Dragon Retail B15 Chinese Cheap Retail B12 FurnitureBuddha Store Store B16 Xinhao Three Treasure B13 Store B17 Vegetable Shahe Pengji Express B14 B18 Retail Tangtou Retail B15 Retail B19 Cheap Jimmy Express B16 StoreShop B20 Three YuanxinTreasure Smoke Buddha and Alcohol B17 Shahe Pengji B21 small grocery Express B18 B22 Tangtou grocery Retail B19 Express B23 Jimmy Shunchang retail B20 Smoke and Alcohol Shop B24 Yuanxin Jiayi Supermarket B21 small grocery B22 grocery B23 Shunchang retail B24 Jiayi Supermarket C--Health/Sport/Beauty C1 E Cut Hair Salon C2 Old Caption Hair Salon C3 Beauty Nail Salon C--Health/Sport/Beauty C4 Gentleman Hair Salon C1 CutSeason Hair Salon C5 E Four Dentist C2 Caption Hair Salon C6 Old Dragon Hair Salon C3 Beauty Nail Salon C7 Tomorrow Star Hair Salon C4 He/She Gentleman Hair Salon C8 Nails Facial Salon C5 Season Dentist Salon C9 Four Zen Sharp International C6 Dragon Hair Salon C10 Oushang Hair Salon C7 C11Tomorrow Yate Hair Star SalonHair Salon C8 Nails Facial Salon C12He/She Hong Harbor Health Club C9 Sharp International Salon C13Zen Dentist C10 Oushang Hair Salon C14 Hakka Hair Salon C11 Hair Salon C15 Yate Hair Salon C12 Health Club C16 Hong BeautyHarbor Hair Salon C13 Dentist C14 Hakka Hair Salon C15 Hair Salon C16 Beauty Hair Salon

Restaurant 47 38.21% Restaurant

Fashion Shop 7 5.69% Fashion Shop 7 5.69%

D2 Thousand Taste Fish Noodles

D3 Overlord Burrito D--Restaurant

D4 Treasure Island Coarse Meal D1 D5 Northeast Gold WoodDumpling Flower Fried Yogurt D2 Taste Fish Noodles D6 Thousand Affordable Snacks D3 Overlord Burrito D7 Turtle Old Lucky Drinking D4 Island Coarse Meal D8 Treasure Jia Jia Beef Noodles D5 Wood Hot Flower D9 Gold Chongqing andFried SourYogurt Powder D6 D10Affordable HangzhouSnacks Bun King D7 Lucky Simmer DrinkingSoup D11Turtle Wei'sOld Cylinder D8 Jia Jia Beef Noodles D12 Original Soup Noodles D9 HotBakery and Sour Powder D13Chongqing Ao Mai Xuan D10 Hangzhou Bun King D14 Wei's Ming JiCylinder DessertSimmer Soup D11 D15 Original Red Flavor Spicy Hot Pot D12 Soup Noodles D16 Wild Sister Hot Pot D13 Ao Mai Xuan Bakery D17 Cheng BBQ D14 Ji Dessert D18 Ming Forever Flavor Garden Restaurant D15 Hot Pot D19 Red Rice Flavor Cycle Spicy Food Store D16 Wild Sister Hot Pot Shop D20 Ancestor Mill Drinking D17 D21 Cheng ShaxianBBQ County Snacks D18 Garden Restaurant D22 Forever PancakeFlavor Dessert D19 Rice Cycle Food D23 Day Day Hot Pot Store D20 Drinking Shop D24 Ancestor DumplingsMill and Pot Porridge D21 Shaxian Snacks D25 Cool ColdCounty Dessert D22 D26 Pancake Bayu Hot Dessert Pot D23 Huainan Day Day Beef Hot Pot D27 Soup D24 Dumplings andChicken Pot Porridge D28 Hankesi Fried and Burger D25 Cool Cold Dessert D29 Xiangyue Steamed Dish D26 Bayu Hot Pot D30 Northeast Dumplings D27 BeefBun Soup D31 Huainan Effendi Soup Store D28 Chicken D32 Hankesi FengfengFried Spicy Hot Potand Burger D29 Xiangyue Steamed D33 Boiled Food Store Dish D30 D34 Northeast Home StyleDumplings Xiang Food D31 Soup Bun Store D35 Effendi Breakfast Shop D32 Fengfeng Spicy Hot Pot D36 Mountain Thunder D33 Boiled Food Store Soup Store D37 Dumpling D34 Yuwan Home Style XiangStore Food D38 Breakfast Xiangke Hot Food Restaurant D35 Shop D39 Success Food Store D36 Long Mountain Soup D40 RiverThunder Pig Trotter RiceStore D37 Store D41 Yuwan LaoguoDumpling Flame Drunk Goose Chicken D38 Xiangke Hot Food Restaurant D42 Zhongji Roast Fish D39 Food Store D43 Success BBQ D40 River Fried Pig Trotter Rice D44 Long Wanglaosi Rice Noodles D41 Goose D45 Laoguo Only OneFlame TasteDrunk Pancake FishChicken D42 Roast Fish D46 Zhongji Zhanjiang Fresh Oysters D43 D47 BBQ Old Chengdu BBQ D44 Wanglaosi Fried Rice Noodles D45 Only One Taste Pancake Fish D46 Zhanjiang Fresh Oysters D47 Old Chengdu BBQ E--Residential

Life Service 16 13.01% Life Service

Electronic Product 9 7.32% Electronic Product

16 9 F--Fashion Shop 13.01% F1 Step Step Higher Shoes7.32% Shop

F2 Seven Flower Accessories Shop

F3 Celebrity Shoes Shop F--Fashion F4 ProfessionalShop Suit Shop

F1 Higher Shoes F5 Step YisicaStep Accessories Shop Shop F2 Flower Accessories F6 Seven Ten Thousand Shoes ShopShop F3 ShoesSlippers Shop F7 Celebrity FCCE Fashion F4 Professional Suit Shop F5 Yisica Accessories Shop F6 Ten Thousand Shoes Shop F7 FCCE Fashion Slippers

G--Life Service

G1 Step Step Higher Shoe Store G2 Flourish Delivery Store G3 Security People Lock Store G--Life Service G4 Shenzhen Gas Service G1 Hardware Step Step Store Higher Shoe Store G5 G2 Delivery StoreCamera G6 Flourish Beauty Good Beauty G3 Security People LockWeight-loss Store G7 Beauty Professional G4 Shenzhen Gas Service G8 Baohua Driving School G5 Store G9 Hardware Laiya Curtain Shop G6 Good G10Beauty Hua An TangBeauty Store Camera G7 Beauty Professional Weight-loss G11 Milky Way Hareware Store G8 Driving School G12Baohua Star Shine Digital Camera G9 Laiya Curtain Shop G13 Honghua Hareware Store G10 Tang Store G14 Hua TailorAn Shop G11 Way Hareware G15 Milky Shunchang HarewareStore Store G12 Shine& Digital Camera G16 Star Furniture Appliance Recycle G13 Honghua Hareware Store G14 Tailor Shop G15 Shunchang Hareware Store G16 Furniture & Appliance Recycle

H--Electronic Product

H1 Good Sound Communication H2 Wan Bang Phone Repair Store H3 Knight Communication H--Electronic Product H4 Hong Da Computer Communication H1 Sound Communication H5 Good Fly Dragon Computer Communication H2 Wan Bang Phone Repair Store H6 Daylight China Mobile Communication H3 Communication H7 Knight Yijia Appliance Repair H4 Hong Da Computer Communication H8 Tianhui Phone Repair Store H5 Dragon ComputerRepair Communication H9 Fly Phone & Computer Store H6 Daylight China Mobile Communication H7 Yijia Appliance Repair H8 Tianhui Phone Repair Store H9 Phone & Computer Repair Store

E--Residential

Functional Partition of Site

In the master plan, the majority of Tangtou Old Houses will be preserved and renovated, mainly as an exhibition space for visitors. Both the illegal buildings on the square and utility rooms in front of the old houses will be demolished, and the bigger collective space will be returned to the public. Considering the seasonly rainy and hot weather in Shenzhen, interior entertainment space will be designed. The three buildings located on the main road will be transformed into a residential, office, leisure and entertainment complex.

For the three buildings, the different functions are vertically divided. The ground floor can be used for open commercial spaces, while the first and second floors are collective space for users and visitors. The upper floors are preserved as residential spaces, diversifying living patterns to meet the needs of different tenants. Last but not the least,the roof will serve as a recreation place.

GARDEN

RENTAL

GARDEN RENTAL

RESIDENTIAL Demolition of illegal buildings

HOUSING

CO-

FLEXIBLE

HOUSING

RENTAL

YOUTH HOTEL PATH

STUDIOS

RESIDENTIAL

LIVING LIVING

OFFICES

CO-

RESIDENTIAL

RENTAL

Demolition of utility rooms

GARDEN

COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL OPEN SPACE PLATFORM

PLATFORM

Layers of Three Residential Buildings

According to different functional definitions, more detailed architectural functions are expected to be realized.Here are some examples:

Youth hotel Green roof

Cohousing

Flexible Shared room kitchen Living room

Residential

Energy collection Vegetable Utility room

Office

Flexible layout of furniture

Functional Partition Legend Open Space Living & Collective

elements of collective publicness

Inside & Outside the Houses

Entertainment

Commercial

Office

Residential

Garden

Community activity

Open Space

Temporary Market Art installation

Tourism

Exhibition

EnterCommericial tainment

Nice view

Graffiti

Beauty

Tourism

Square dance

Living & Collective

Garden

Study room

Grocery Rest-aurant

Bookstore

Food & Drink

Chatting

Classification of Block Functions

Plan of Ground Level The ground floor space will be used for commerce, more open to streets and internal blocks. The vertical circulation of the building will be preserved as a “core tube”, ensuring that residents on the upper floors will not be affected. In addition to the storage and sanitation room, the rest will be used for commercial purposes. At the same time, the space is more transparent, increasing the visibility and accessibility to the inner space.

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elements of collective publicness

101

Schematic Model of Renovation

Floor Plan of B1 & B2

The three buildings will be preserved and renovated to varying degrees. The structure and vertical circulation will remain, but the division of interior space will be different somewhere. Balconies will be added to increase interaction between residents,as well as enjoy good views. The portion of the B1 and B2. that have occupied the space will be removed.

This is the floor plan of B1 and B2. The ground floor can be used for commerce,catering or fitness. The second floor will be connected with two buildings by corridor, which is the real realization of “Handshake building”.

Before

20 m

After

Direction

0 Level:

1-2 Level:

Commercial Space

Living & Collective Space

Eliminated Inserted

Ground level Balcony, Roof garden, Glass facade

Direction Eliminated Inserted

Ground Level, Component outside structure Balcony, Roof garden, Corridor, Sunshade facade

Direction Eliminated Inserted

Ground Level, Component outside structure Balcony, Roof garden, Corridor, Sunshade facade

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103

Floor Plan of B1 & B2

Floor Plan of B3

It is the upper levels of B1 and B2. There are eight single rooms in the B1and six in B2. It is a shared kitchen, dining table, stairs and bathroom space in the middle. In order to bring in as much natural light as possible, bedrooms are arranged on either side of the building. At the same time, there is a small atrium at full height.The roof is open to residents, who can grow potted plants or food.

This is the floor plan of B3. The ground floor will be mainly used for commerce, as well as bicycle room,toilet, staircases and elevator. The first and second floor will be renovated as offices, rent0 ed by business owners. Furnitures are flexible to combine and arrange according to users’ needs.

3-7 Level:

Roof:

Residential Rooms

Entertainment + Garden

0 Level:

1 Level:

Common Space Commercial

Office

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elements of collective publicness

20 m

105

Floor Plan of B3

In the second level, there are three smaller staircases to the room in the upper level, which might be used as separated studios integrating work and living space. the staircase in the second level would be regarded as a form of space division.

4-8 floors would be used as residences, with three rooms in each floor. The roof can also be used as a place of entertainment. 0

The location of the stairs is also different for residential and commercial area. To some extent, the office space and living space are relatively independent and will not interfere with each other.

2 Level:

3 Level:

Workshop

Studio

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elements of collective publicness

4-8 Level Living Area

20 m

Roof Entertainment Green

107

Business Model in Houses Business Model in Houses

Business ModelModel in the Ground FloorGround Business in the

In the existing building, three tenants rent and live on one floor, while sharing the space of kitchen and toilet. Due to the high-density building in the urban village, much internal space in the building lacks sunlight and wind ventilation. In proposal, the quality of living space might be better and livable. Meanwhile, more rooms for new tenants will be designed. Landlords will acquire more rents from the renovation proposal.

Some factors such as area, utility rooms, toliets, accessibility are greatly affected the rent of business space in ground level. Room Type T1 T2 T3 T4

Level

Utility Room

Toliet

√ ×

58.8

9900/1260

√

99.1

11000/1400

131.5 253.2

15000/1910 30000/3822

√ ×

Accessibility

√

Area(m²)

Rent (RMB/Euros/month)

One Floor for living space in Renovated Building Renovation One Floor in Current Building

One Floor for commercial space

In the renovation project, Landlords will get advantages, not only comfortable living space, but also economic benefits. Once these proposals work after practice, more landlords are willing to participate in the urban village upgrade.

Landlords

Proposal

Tenants

Inhabitants/ Business owners

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elements of collective publicness

Architects/ Developers

109

Business ModelModel in the Housing Space Business

Room Typology

During the renovation project, some strategies will be applied in the building. In the ground level, it will open more space for economic usage. The first and second level are for collective space. In the upper levels, the space is for co-housing, while more rooms would be accommodated. From the economic perspective, more rents will be calculated after the proposal is done.

For the bedroom, the facilities of room, view, the infrastructure of the building, etc., will be important factors affecting the rent. Many rental rooms in the city village,as the saying goes, although the sparrow is small, everything is available(麻雀虽小，五脏俱全).

Room Type

Toliet

Kitchen

Balcony

Elevator

Area(m²)

Rent (RMB/Euros/month)

× ×

√

2200/280

√

× ×

14.7

√ ×

9.6--11.7

2000/255

9.7

1780/227

√

42.3--64.3

4000/510

Meanwhile, Rooms in B3 building are generally with a larger area and a more comfortable living environment. Residents can choose different rooms according to their needs.

T4 T2

T4 T3 T2

T3 T2

T3 T3

T2 + T3

Partition between two adjoining rooms can be removed.

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111

Section Perspective From the section perspective, the internal refurbishment of the residential buildings, Tangtou Old Houses would be revealed. At the same time, the scale of the buildings, open space in the block would be compared critically.

塘头老屋

Office + Studio

112

elements of collective publicness

Platform of Old Houses

Collective Space + Residential Rooms

Residential Rooms + Roof Garden

113

Window Sunshade Deisgn Windows and doors are important elements of architecture. In Chinese traditional buildings, they are essential components with both aesthetic and practical functions. The doors and Windows of the building can not only reflect traditional culture, but also a valuable historical heritage. In this design, the sunshade design involves traditional elements and modern material technology.

Sunlight & Ventilation Window with Chinese style

The sun shading design is equipped with an electric device, which can adjust the angle according to the height of the sun. It can effectively block heat directly into the room,while ensuring adequate indoor light. Decorative traditional pattern design, not only can create rich shadow images, but also conducive to the circulation of the air. In the hot and humid climate of Shenzhen, the design of the sunshade makes the space more humanized and livable. 90°

60°

30°

0°

Traditional Window Ancient windows were made of wood. The windows and doors of residential houses are fresh and elegant in color, while palaces and temples are decorated with multi-color painting technology. Windows were decorated with different patterns, coming from other decorative arts, such as patterns of bronze ware, patterns of ancient jade ware, and patterns of textiles,etc.

Window Sunshade Deisgn Considering the climate in Shenzhen and economic benefits, aluminum was chosen as the material for the sunshade panels, which are hung outside the building as the second skin. Pattern design can reduce heat gains and glare whilst maximising the use of natural daylight.

Construction Detail Concrete Wall Steel Pole L Profile of galvanized steel

Advantage to use metal shading design Aesthetics Metal offers a unique, rhythmic aesthetic to compliment. With virtually options in hole shapes, sizes, traditional patterns, perforated metal makes it a perfect material to achieve a specific look.

DurabIility It can withstand harsh weather environments, with the ability to control or equalize pressure due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. The pattern design also decreases the weight.

Energy Efficient By balancing light & ventilation, perforated metal can allow architects to manage interior heat build-up from the sun.

Eco-Friendly Due to its recyclability, it reduces energy in use, promotes sustainability, and invites innovation in terms of innovative & creative design. Reduce weight and lower fuel transportation costs to the building site.

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elements of collective publicness

N Steel Rotating Component

Alumminum Facade Panel

115

Spatial Renderings -- Block

Spatial Renderings -- Design Details

Stand directly in front of the square and record the lively and vibrant square and the renovated buildings at the end of the old houses.

In the context of block planning and overall building renovation, some interesting design details should also be noticed. 5

4 3 2 1

1--View in front of Plaza

2--Wooden Pavilion

4--Alley Between the Old Houses

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elements of collective publicness

3--Entrance of the Old Houses

5--Single Room in Residential Building

117

Spatial Renderings -- Four Seasons in the Square The square in front of the Old Houses is a relatively open area in Baishizhou, which is a platform for residents. Chinese people attach great importance to traditional festivals, and the square will be the best place for festival activities. -SPRING-Qingming Festival-

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elements of collective publicness

-SUMMER-Dragon Boat Festival-

Everything grows in spring. With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, the community might organize zongzi activities. In the Mid-Autumn Festival, families enjoy the full moon and guess lantern riddles. Before the Lunar New Year comes, families would clean their houses, go to the flower market, paste spring couplets, and welcome the arrival of the New Year. -AUTUMN-Mid-Autumn Festival-

-WINTER-Lunar New Year-

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CONCLUSION Urban villages are like a big family, showing strong tolerance for immigrants working in Shenzhen to seek for a better life. Houses inside can provide warm shelter, while the outside is more collective. Inhabitants can chat with friends, tasting foods, etc. However, many voices from authority are now inclined to demolish villages and replace them with modern high-rises. From my perspective, It is a kind of abnormal urban aesthetics to pursue the uniform appearance blindly and ignore the diversity of life. How do cities grow in difference is a critical issue to explore.

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elements of collective publicness

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Breathing Handshakes Open Urban Grounds & Water Courtyards The project is aiming to reveal the linked potential of the existing vivid street life and dynamic commercial activities on the ground floors through tackling the two major problems of life in Handshake towers: clean water scarcity and sunlight inadequacy.

• •

122

elements of collective publicness

Keywords: • Natural lighting Rainwater collection / clean water Street activity - interior connection

123

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elements of collective publicness

125

Breathing Handshakes: Open Urban Grounds Concept Proposal 90’S-20’S HANDSHAKE TOWERS’ PROBLEMS:

ECONOMIC & SOCIO-CULTURAL BENEFITS OF OPEN URBAN GROUND FLOORS: • lack of infrastructure • clean water scarcity • high urban density = less empty ground space • lack of sunlight in interiors and alleyways

咖啡店

理髮師

針織品

咖啡店

理髮師

針織品

• diverse and intense commercial activities on the ground floors, but disorganized and unhygienic areas

SOLUTIONS - DESIGN PROPOSALS: • re-organization of shops and ground floors, enhancing the street connection by partial demolition of the facades on the ground floors • aiming a slow tranformation approach for building renovation throughout the whole urban village by catalyzing the change with this first step. • new core design integrated with a water courtyard idea which will provide natural ventilation, sunlight and rainwater collection

126

elements of collective publicness

crowded bulding layout

enhanced urban walkability

flexible store spaces

• more tourists can be at• disorganized existing • more efficient and flexibuilding footprints are occu- tracted by new open ground or- ble use of store spaces pying the urban ground enor- ganizations through increased mously and creating inactive walkability and proximity • new shops can be added or urban areas reduced according to need MAIN ACTORS:

business owners & landlords

• The economic value of Baishizhou is mostly created by the commercial activity on the ground floors of the buildings. Looking at the existing shops1, it is clearly seen that most of the economic gain comes from retail and accomodation services. Open urban grounds are a design that can benefit both business owners, landlords and urban villagers. It will both strengthen the commercial and touristic value of the village with its new street charm and help develop and modernize the area without causing gentrification by initiating a slow renewal. 1 • Retail & Wholesale = Store Quantity: 974, Store Percentage: %42.16 • Food & Hotel = s.q.: 552, s.p.: %23.90 • Residential Services = s.q.: 615, s.p.: %26.62 • Other Services (related to residential) = s.q.: 37, s.p.: %1.60

127

Breathing Handshakes: Open Urban Grounds Design Concept

Isometric View: Existing Unorganized Shop Typologies

128

elements of collective publicness

Isometric View: Shop Typologies in Open Urban Grounds

129

Breathing Handshakes: Open Urban Grounds Design Concept

Street View: Shops in Open Urban Grounds

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Street View: Shops in Open Urban Grounds

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Pilot Study Area Step 3

Step 1

Breathing Handshakes: Open Urban Grounds Design Phases

Corner Buildings

Public Square

The Backbone & Main Pedestrian Street

Busy Alleys

Existing Businesses: 1. Little Brother Shopping (Noodle Bar) 2. Shangbaishi Wufang Farmers Market 3. Shangbaishi Vegetable Shop 4. Food 5.Market 6. Food 7. Shonan Barbershop 8. Retail 9.Market 10. Sunshine Department Store 11. Laojiefang Convenience Store 12. Retail x1 Small Market x1 13. Small Market 14. Restaurant 15. Street Food 16. Soup Bar 17. Restaurant 18. Small Market 19. Tmall Store (Baishizhou Store) 20. Food 21. Fanxiaodou-shiyidian tea restaurant 22. Wholesale 23. Ming Kee Communication 24. Vegetable Shop 25. Convenience Store 26. Professional acne treatment 27. 361Clothes Shop 28. Deep Garden Apartment (hostel) 29. Hengbo (Baishizhou mobile franchise store) 30. Jiayin Communication 31. Gold and silver processing and recycling 32. Nice and nice hotel 33. Novelty Toy Store 34. Xin Kee Seafood Restaurant 35. Furniture Shop 36. Ruicaotang Pharmacy 37. Small Electronics Shop 38. New Sunshine Store (convenience small) 39. Restaurant 40. Communication store 41. Convenience Store 42. China Welfare Lottery 43. Teahouse 44. Water Distributor 45. Fastfood 46. Communication Store 47. Hairdresser 48. Shenxing Wanjia Life Supermarket 49. Zhongtong Express (courier company) 50. Sideline Printing 51. Galaxy Kindergarten 52. Call Supermarket 53. Foodx3 54. Mellow Hakka Specialties 55. Lijiang Music Bistro 56. Retailx4 57. Limeida Beauty & Hair Products Firm 58. Mei Niang Beauty 59. Shenzhen Baishizhou Market Changjiang Trade Complex 60. Willow snail fragrant snail noodles 61. Slowly Braised Pork Ribs Rice 62. Xingliangpin soup bag 63. Hao Shun Yi Fruit Shop 64. Shangbaishi Village Committee 65. Hongli Restaurant

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• Removal of scratchy additions of buildings • Addition of the core circulations in open ground buildings

Step 4

Step 2

• Removal of facades on the street level of commercial buildings in the Backbone of the village and in the main pedestrian streets.

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• Re-arranging the steps in the sidewalks as organizing platforms of new open urban ground Problematic areas (need particular solutions) To protect smooth human flowin the busy alleys some buildings should be partially cut down

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Step 5

Breathing Handshakes: Open Urban Grounds Realisation Phases

• Articulation of new business modules on the platform. • Non-disturbed, dynamic human flow-building program relationship. Pilot design area in building scale

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Space Syntax Axial Analysis

Breathing Handshakes: Old vs. New Urban Morphology

New Open Ground Floors

choice

Old Closed Ground Floors

New Open Ground Floors Space Syntax Analysis Conclusion: Based on the space syntax analysis we can see the integration is enhancing especially in the main street and the backbone street (where the reddest axes are). Also, secondary important axes observed are surrounding the red axes and, strengthening the general proximity. Thus, a conclusion can be made that opening up the ground floors will contribute to the walkability and the strengthening of the commercial activity on the ground floors.

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integration

connectivity

Old Closed Ground Floors

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Breathing Handshakes: Open Urban Grounds Perspective

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Breathing Handshakes: Water Courtyards Concept HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REFERENCE OF THE WATER COURTYARDS IDEA: • central courtyards in vernacular Chineese architecture are used for natural cooling and as central green space

siheyuan housing layout

ECONOMIC & SOCIO-CULTURAL BENEFITS OF NEW CORE DESIGN: Is it possible to compliment and revitalize an ancient courtyard culture in extreme urban conditions?

haka compounds • culture of gathering in courtyards are still existing in urban villages today • villagers are washing their clothes and children in fresh water wells in the hidden courtyards of urban villages

communal sunken ring

‘A young mother washes her family’s clothes in a communal sunken ring with a well in the center. Laundry is done, livestock is cleaned, and children are bathed here, sometimes simultaneously’

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‘An alley opens into a ruin and courtyard’

Photos and descriptions: Frank Wang

• central cores in handshake towers are already holding great importance as the landlords change the interiors very often to gain more rent profit

• improved living environment with climate integrated building cores and open ground floors • renewed centered core which will make future refurbishments and new floor additions easier • if new storeys will be added, the core and water-sunlight tunnel can be lenghtened and keep providing for the future residents • landlords will have the chance for gaining more long term renters or even buyers who wants to enjoy a nice neighborhood 141

Breathing Handshakes: Ground Floor Plan & Section of Pilot Building

• New commercial shops integrated into open urban grounds. To create flexible and needs oriented spaces, design for re-assembly method will be used • Existing stepped street typology will be re-designed connected with the new platforms of open grounds

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Breathing Handshakes: Alternative Core & Residential Floor Configurations

Example Space Divisions For Different Income & Renter Groups

6.9m² room

10.8m² room

11m ² room

35.2m² apartment

13.2m² balcony

3.9m ² balcony 42m² residence

12.8m² common kitchen & wc

9.2m² balcony

24.5m² apartment

192m² open office

34.3m² apartment

8.7m ² balcony

22.5m² balcony

Example Core & Courtyard Configurations

• Available space for apartments or offices etc., interior walls can be installed according to needs and residents’ choice central floor circulation • Central floor circulation

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Breathing Handshakes: Water Courtyard Perspective

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Breathing Handshakes: Water & Light Tunnel Exploded Diagram Tensile Membrane Views

1. Roof Extension Detail

Roof Structure Views

3. Mirror System Detail

Mirror system reflects sunlight into the building up to the ground floor.

4. Body Part Detail 3

Roof to ground whole system

Damp catcher outer mesh

Light amplifier angled mirror system

Plastic tube that transmits the rainwater

Steel frames which connects the body

Connection to the wall of the core

2. Courtyard Extension Detail While the inner tube transmits the water from the roof to the tank, the outer net traps the moisture inside the system.

5. End Part Detail

2 The bowl at the end of the body part collects the water coming from the outer net and the roof and transfers it to the tank.

6. Body Structure 5

The steel circle frames on the body hold the whole system together and are connected to the core of the building with steel ropes which take the tension.

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Breathing Handshakes: Water & Light Tunnel System Principles 1

DESIGN ELEMENTS

WATER FLOW

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Tensile membrane

Upcycled PVC pipe structure

Damp catcher net from light diffusing fabric

Bowl shaped surface to collect condensed damp from the net

Tensile Membrane Detail

Plastic Tube Detail (Made by Heating Plastic Bottles)

Damp Cathcher Net Detail

PVC Pipe Structure Connection Detail: Universal Joint

Sun Light Tunnel System Will provide natural light throught the curtain walls around pocket courtyards on the sides of the building core

Cooling Pocket Courtyard Working in tandem with the open ground floors and central circulation in the upper floors these central courtyards will act as a chimney to passively cool

Steel frames

Light amplifier mirrors

Will provide fresh water for the residents. A protective anti-bird net will be installed on top of the membrane.

Main reflector mirrors controlled by computer

Rain Water Collection System

MATERIAL PRINCIPLES

Design for Re-assembly The structure of water collector umbrellas will be PVC pipes which can be easily found in the urban villages. It will also make an easy installation possible by villagers when needed.

Recycled plastic bottle tube for rainwater flow Pocket courtyard

Collective rainwater tank

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Breathing Handshakes: Roof Perspective

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Breathing Handshakes: Street Perspective

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Conclusions Although the future of Handshake Towers does not seem very bright, total demolition is not a feasible and humane solution. The displacement of a large number of people will cause sociological and urban problems as well as the loss of enormous potential which urban villages obtain. It is clear that Shenzhen is turning into a busy metropolis full of skyscrapers and the Handshake Towers will have to adapt to this change one way or another. In this project, it is questioned that if it is possible to reveal the potential of the urban villages by enhancing the urban conditions and therefore, catalyze a slow, steady change from the bottom to top. Refurbishment over demolition will support a more diverse community in which everyone feels belonging.

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Streetscape The street as a tool for a unified urban village, the continues use of brick will bring attention and a curiosity to the village, pathways like rivers connect big street with smalls allays, and lead the users deep into the village, showing hidden spaces, lost gems, and secret ways trough Baishizhou. They will highlight the village and aim for a cleaner and more organised whole, luring people inside.

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Sreet Scape

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VIBRANT STREETSCAPE Street life is an important aspect of life in the urban village, our research pointed out that streets are used for almost everything apart from sleeping, showering,...

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This makes the public spaces extremely important and asks for a well-organised structure, that is clean and is used to its full potential.

A unified street scape -is a first step in the organisation of the immensely densely populated urban village. Providing structure pathways and hierarchy without losing the vital characteristics of the urban village in its current condition.

Paths will flow like water deep into the urban village and -allow the visitor to discover hidden squares, restaurants, religious shrines, old wells,... These pathways will be surrounded by greenery cooling down Baishizhou and making it a comfortable and relaxing town to be in.

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B R I C Integration of stairs into a slope

Flexible open space Proposed situation

The bricks have been laid over the existing streets as a rectangular solid mass, forming a carpet that unifies the entire village. The bricks place orthogonal form an organic structure, stairs flow into ramps and flow into sidewalk benches, the street flows into terraces and squares,.. The wave pattern thus created resembles waterways passing through the urban village leading people around with a sense of being on a journey. The paths seemingly merge into each other and invite the participant to explore the area as he likes. The streets flow like water through a forest of buildings, resembling softness, flexibility, calmness in the Chinese philosophical scope of Daoism. Water is also included in the ten heavenly stems, and represents wealth and money luck in the Feng Shui.

A T T E R N S

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STREET HIERARCHY MODEL Integration of stairs into a slope

Flexible open space Proposed situation

Integration of stairs into a slope

Flexible open space Proposed situation

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INDOOR PUBLIC SPACE TO OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACE Indoor public space to outdoor public space

Flexible open (food) space Existing situation

Indoor public space to outdoor public space

City colours Existing situation

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Indoor public space to outdoor public space

Flexible chairs & tables Proposed furniture

Indoor public space to outdoor public space

Flexible open space Proposed situation

Flexible furniture is added in the public space, as a picture frame on the wall. The furniture can serve as chairs and tables, they make it possible to have lots of open space without obstruction of street furniture, they also allow for flexible use by the urban villagers or visitors. They provide many additional place settings for every restaurant in the village by not limiting them to just their indoor and immediate outdoor space

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The furniture can be easily made from cheap and easy to find materials, the model was made with some leftover cardboard, iron wire and fishing line. elements of collective publicness

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Indoor spaces on the ground floor are opened up and become an extension of the public realm, providing shorter roads, more open space, and opportunities for small and large businesses to settle in the city. They will service as a tool that can be used by the inhabitants to restructure the ground level of the urban village.

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The material of the street itself gets extended into the open ground floor, unifying the space, and drawing people into the village, the orientation of the bricks is structured in such a way that it gives a clear image of the total space, and works well together with the spatial organisation of the urban village. Ramps, stairs and benches are provided making it an interactive ground level, and offering the possibility to use every square inch of the immediate surroundings of the building. 173

FLOW LIKE A RIVER

This street resembles a particular street in Baishizhou but is not shown in this part of the booklet, it serves as an example for the whole village and can be replicated into other urban villages with similar properties. Greenery is limited to the buildings adjacent to the bigger streets, but can be expanded throughout the whole village and into the other projects.

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Street scape as a river Proposed situation

Fixed furniture is made with small mosaic stones, reused from the renovated and changed buildings. They represent the vertical elements in the village and are analogous to the buildings usually clad in the colourful mosaic tiles, like the lose chair elements this fixed furniture will get different colours depending on the buildings surrounding it, and the types of mosaic available. The fixed furniture is placed underneath some streetlights, and in smaller spaces alongside squares, they will prevent littering or degradation of those “dead” spaces and make them lively again.

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F L O W

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Plan streetscape Proposed situation

L I K E A R I V E R

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ATTRACTIVE BORDERS

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant border study Proposed situation

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The lower picture shows my research into the urban village border, and the extra spaces in those areas, this image resulted in the image on the right. The border is clearly visible in the surrounding urban fabric but isn’t made entirely different so it doesn’t stand out and becomes an eyesore. Trees that were already present in the existing situation are kept.

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant border Proposed situation

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VIBRANT GREEN SPACE

A street does not only consist of the pavement, a gutter and the road, but also greenery, light, furniture,... All these make or break the livelihood and the image of a village. In Baishizhou where buildings are so close to each other and the lights need to be on most of the time, -it must be taken into account that they become a never-to-be-forgotten functional ornament in the street.

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant green scape Proposed situation

Red lanterns are fitted across the whole village making an unification in 3D, they are placed there to work to interact well with the lights and billboards of the shops, and creating a nice lively whole, in the style of the current urban village. The lights provide light and an extra surface of greenery. Ivy is placed into the village and grown over buildings and “powerlines”. These green surfaces up in the sky should furthermore lead visitors into the smaller streets of Baishizhou and give a more mystical green element into the densely populated village. The ivy can also provide some privicay to the handshake tower residents and bring some green into their sight.

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Rock Rose

New Zealand Iris

Echinacea

Common Thyme

Baishizhou Shenzhen Cleveland sage

Verbena

Purple Fountain Grass

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Festuca Longifolia

Orchid

Flower shop

Lychee

Azalea

Festuca Rubra

Existing situation

Zoysia ssp

Plants Green is an important element in a city, it brings life, comfort, structure and in this case even a notion of direction. Most cities, countries, neighbourhoods have a connection with some plants so has Shenzhen. For example the lychee as the tree of the city and the azalea as the flower of Shenzhen.

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant green scape Proposed situation

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VIBRANT CITY LIFE

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant green scape Proposed situation

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The street connects the open space underneath the handshake towers. They allow spaces to flow into each other and go from outdoor to indoor and vice versa. It creates a public open space, a space-for eating, shopping, gathering, walking, enjoying, running, playing,... A place to be enjoyed by all, from children playing on the ramps and stairs, travellers eating food from all over China to locals socialising with their neighbours and customers.

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant green scape Proposed situation

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Vibrant green scape Proposed situation

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Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant green scape Proposed situation

A city where most of life takes place on the streets does not need much elements, to bring people out. It needs organisation but without losing flexibility, it needs intimacy but without losing gathering spaces, it needs a typology without losing its identity,... Baishizhou unified by its street life and its people working, washing, eating as a community and the street scape as a canvas to be painted by the users, from locals to visitors and foreigners, with their activities.

Baishizhou Shenzhen

Vibrant green scape Proposed situation

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Baishizhou Shenzhen

The old town Proposed situation

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Common stories *ADD PICTURE*

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The urban villages historically lack an essential space for the developement of a healthy community: The public (but secondary) squares. A place slightly isolated from the main, impersonal streets, where the neighbors can get together and create bonds with whom -and what- surrounds them. By creating a network of connected second stories for the residents, we are also allowing new, intermingled narratives; we’re making possibe the establishing of common activities and, of course, common stories.

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Storey : A storey of a building is one of its different levels, which is situated above or below other levels. Etymology : From Middle English story, from Medieval Latin historia (“narrative”).

Days at the communal floor.

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Common stories 5m Avobe Ground Since the main goal of the intervention is to preserve and improve the actual urban tissue, a solution that involves the opening of the second floors of the building has various advantages: By using the floor above the ground level only, which was previously occupied by apartments, the losses on habitable space are minimal in comparison to the gains on the life quality. If we take it from the landlord’s perspective, the economical advantages that this intervention gives are also remarkable, since it allows a reavaluation of the building value and the establishment of new small business

MINOR LOSS OF HOUSING

T ILI

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Another clear advantage is the simpleness of making accesible the second level to the public, in comparison to the levels above. Furthermore, and as can be seen in the typological study of the buildings on the area* there’s already a constructive culture on installing external staircases, as well as bridges between close buildings.

KEEPING THE BUSINESSES OF THE GROUND LEVEL

Giving to the first floor a special use is a common practice in the area; The phenomenon of staircaises in the outter part of the building is not rare to see in Baishizhou. They normally lead to a small shop or business, or even to an independent flat.

The small shops and business that are already in the area not only will be unaffected by the expansion of the public space, but they will benefit from it since it will make the inner streets more busy. 196

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Architecturally speaking, there’s a trait of particular interest when doing this approach: The experience of the city public space from a completely new point of view is suddenly possible, and that offers plenty of potential outcomes. At the moment of conceptualizing the space, that was the main point that we had in account. How do we give to the people of Baishizhou a new way of experiencing the urban village? What de they need the most in that particular enviroment?

THE STREETS

NEW SPATIAL POSSIBILITIES

VERTICALITY

HORIZONTALITY IN THE 2NDS

THE CHOSEN SOLUTION IS CLEAR AND SIMPLE:

Common stories Concept

HORIZONTAL PERSPECTIVES. In a place like a urban village, their inhabitants, used as they are to crowded streets and stuffed buildings, only have the feeling of looking into an open space when watching the sky. Our intentions in the developing of this project is to give to the people the chance of feeling the profundity, the horizon, also in the horizontal direction, thus enhancing even more the feeling of freedom even in a dense place such as Baishizhou.

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Common stories Design methodology To reach our objective we created a method for a systemical intervention: That is to say, this model is applicable regardless of the particularities of each building, and can be used for the entire urban village. That does not mean that the final product will be always the same, or that it will not contemplate the enviroment, since through the method proposed the results are different precisely because of the context. In order to explain it, we’ll use a particular area in the center of Baishizhou, an extremely densified zone. Through this most extreme case we will be showing the principles for the creation of common stories. The first steps are focused towards creating sensemaking public spaces in the seconds. For this, what we’ll need to start doing is grouping the buildings. That has two reasons. The first is the need of creating spaces in which is possible the coexistence of different activities, and for that they have to achieve a certain size. The second is that, by creating building agrupations, we can somehow redirect the circulations inside the village, enhancing the importance of some streets while hiding some others.

COMMON STORIES_USER MANUAL

共同的故事_使用手 STEP 1 (步一)

Measuring width between buildings In order to decide which buildings could or should be connected, it is of outmost importance to know the spatial relation between them. Therefore, the first step is measuring the distance that there is between all the objects (buildings). Throughout the urban village, there are already cases of interconnected buildings at the second floors. After analysing them, we discovered that there was never more than 3 meters between the linked buildings. In the project we will abide to the same rule, achieving through this limitation constructive coherence with the enviroment.

STEP 2 (步二)

Defining circulations through the cluster Considering the circulations that we want to generate inside the area is a key point as well, since it reduces the randomness of the grouping and makes it useful on the urban scale. If we don’t want to interfere with these circulations, the building agroupations should avoid cutting over the main routes and serve as “rails”, directing the people towards the planned places.

STEP 3 (步三) Grouping Map of the northen part of Baishizhou. Case study area marked in black.

Once the two first parameters have been taken into consideration, the obvious result is a continuation of interconnected buildings at some points quite short, at others impressively large. With this last step what is achieved is the regularisation of the size of this spaces, by limiting its area to a certain amount of square meters. The advantadges of doing so is that we make the spaces local, private to a certain extent, and easily comprehensive in its entirety for everyone. The maximum area that we admit is 500 sq.m. , and the minimal 150. That means, in most of the cases, agrupations from 2 to 3 buildings.

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Common stories Plans

步一 1. Measuring width between buildings

步三 3. Grouping Plan 1. We can see how small are the gaps between buildings. Even though most of them are closer than 3m from each other, we can already discard some connections that won’t be possible if we follow the principles. Plan 2. The movement flows can be understood in a clearer way if we see it in a wider -urban- context. The Y axis would serve as a part of the main avenue planned (see masterplan), while the X would connect the squares (blue) designed in the project HIDDEN SPACES. Plan 3. Marked in grey, the groups of buildings that will be detailed during the project (A,B,C,E,H,I,J). Although they are shown as agrupations as well, D and F won’t be specified since their working mechanics can be explained with the others. In the case of G and K, it is due to its different programme and working principles that will only recieve a brief comment (see Annex).

步二 2. Defining circulations through the cluster 202

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Image. Stadshal, Gent. This multifunctional space is shown to make visually understandable the chosen average size for the agrupations. The size of the Standhal is of aproximately 350 sq.m. Photographed by Marc de Blieck © Robbrecht en Daem.

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Common stories Design methodology

COMMON STORIES_USER MANUAL

共同的故事_使用手 STEP 4 (步四)

PART 2

Opening perspectives With the building agrupations generated, we proceed to the next steps, in which we zoom in the scale to detail the buildings. Horizontal perspective is the spatial charachteristic that we want to achieve, and therefore all the gestures will be made towards this same purpose. We have to remember though, in the masterplan scale, the importance stressed on the preservation of the buildings as they are. Due to this, we start only by emptying the interior of the building, and leaving the naked structure and together with the outter facade.

Process sketched on a hypotetycal building. Avobe: It illustrates the floor, once emptied of everything apart from its skin -facades- and structure. Middle: The building, once the perspectives are opened (Step 4). Below: The possibilities when defining the internal divisions (Step 5) are multiple. As can be seen, starting from the structural pillar,the wall can go in one or both directions.

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The coming intervention may be the most important of the entire project. It is the substraction of entire parts of the old facade in order to get the desired horizontal perspectives. This obvertures are placed only in the areas where, by taking the wall out, we get far-range visuals; That is to say, in the places where the building is facing a perpendicular street or a square. It is also the moment to take out the walls in the inner part of the building agrupations, so each common storey can be understood as single unit.

STEP 5 (步五)

Defining internal divisions Once the openings towards horizontality are done, we are left with an empty space, filled only with the structural pillars. Pillars, by definition, are purely vertical elements, and therefore in basic contradiction with the main concept of the project. It would appear as if we were in a dead end: How to make sense out of this paradox? The answer is by transforming them in walls that direct your sight to the openings. With this solution we enhance the impression of perspective and we create some new aparent divisions that are bound to give even more plurality of uses to the elevated square.

STEP 6 (步六)

Texturing the interiors Getting to an even smaller scale, what is left is to define the materiality inside the building. It will be completely focused towards enhancing the characteristhics proposed for the building, by using the most accesible materials in the area. We assume for this part that the most accesible materials are the ones that are used the most -something that we already know after the urban village analysis-. 205

Common stories Plans 步四 4. Opening perspectives

步五 5. Defining internal divisions

Plan 4. System applied to the intervened area. Apart from the visuals that allow us the streets (blue lines) we add an extra rule to the substration of walls by considering the redesigned public spaces (in the plan, marked in light blue). Plan 5. Internal divisiors directed to the vanishing points. Here we can see included the internal accesses to the housing, that play an important role when dividing the insides.

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Common stories Plans 1_350

The resulting product is finally put into context, and the stairs leading to each cluster can be finally located. By merging it with the Hidden Spaces project, we create a continuous public space that combines the two levels. The location of the accesses is something that haven not been neglected. They are placed in order to create intimate but clearly public alternatives, not forcing the visitor to go in but nevertheless visible from the main circulation routes.

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Common stories Materiality

步六 6. Texturing the interiors

REINFORCE_THE_ CONCEPT_BY_ REINTERPRETING _ L O C A L _ CONSTRUCTIVE S O L U T I O N S Following this idea, each one of the elements inside the project gives consistency to the rest of them. For instance, The interior walls are made with concrete bricks, the most accessible & cheap among the materials. By placing them in the perpendicular way, in a way that the light can get through, we are lightening their denisty, and even though from some perspectives the wall will keep directing your sight to the horizon, from others it will allow the individuals to see through them. When refering to the treatment that recieves the facade, we left them as it is, since modifying it would mean to destroy the relation of this flat with the rest of the building. Nevertheless, since it was necessary to blind the old windows -they would diminish the impression of the newly opened perspectives- we place a second skin in the interior made of translucent polycarbonate. With this, the sights are blocked but the light still can get through. Pictures. Prototype; More than to generate an accurate model, that was made in order to see how the light would interact with different materials and patterns

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º Common stories Materiality The treatment of the floor is also a good example of applying the main concept through the local conciousness and materials: We have seen already how all the facades of the urban village are covered with ceramic tiles; since this material is only used to cover vertical surfaces, by using it to cover some parts of the floor we’re taking the concept of horizontalizing to its most tangible level. Folding the skin of the building is, in a way, rotating by 90º the essentialy vertical Baishizhou.

Sketch of the tiled facade & pavement. The ceramic tiled pavement is extended only up to the distance that it would if the facade was actually folded

Practically speaking is also advantageous, since the reflectiveness of the ceramic will make the Common Stories lighter and its thermal properties will help regulate the temperature

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Common stories Annex

SQUARE, AVENUE OR SOPPING MALL? WIDTH PER SECTION 0.0 - 1.5 m 1.5 - 3.0 m 3.0 - 5.0 m 5.0 - 10.0 m 10.0 - 30.0 m

WIDTH PER SECTION 0.0 - 1.5 m 1.5 - 3.0 m 3.0 - 5.0 m 5.0 - 10.0 m 10.0 - 30.0 m

Plan 1. The approach is taken to a bigger scale, measuring from top to bottom the width of a street in Baishizhou and the distance between contiguous buildings. The data shows clearly the importance of widening this route, wether in the ground floor or -as we propose - through the seconds.

Plan 2. This would be the parallel to the 3rd step (Grouping) of the project. Once we have the clusters in which the buildings are grouped (by following the rules stated at the beggining) we see that there are some agroupations that do not fit into the size requirements. Those, as would be the groups K and G of the current project, would be adequate to be shopping malls (darkest blue in the diagram) or secondary avenues (cyan).

The project has been focused towards creating intimate public spaces. Nevertheless, the systemical approach proposed can be extrapolated in almost in its entirety to different programmes as, for example, a shopping avenue or a comercial cluster. Although this options were contemplated already when the project began, it seemed more reasonable to focus only in one set of functions and develop it as extensively as possible. We keep them, in any case, as possible directions for further developing the Common Stories.

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In the parts where the width is of 1.5 or less, it’s basic to have also an open ground floor ( as included on the masterplan).

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Common stories

Nights at the communal floor.

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Hidden spaces Hidden spaces is a project about neglected environment around residential buildings inside the urban village. By addressing main problems such as lack of greenery, uncertainty of function and overheating micro-climate project aims to create vibrant communal spaces hidden between residential spaces

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Hidden spaces - project vision

Currently residential streets and squares are left empty while street life thrives

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Project vision is to address these spaces by adding green public infrastructure and create safe urban environment for residents of Baishizhou

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Hidden spaces - location and problems

Chosen territory

Residential streets Small handshake streets create a dense network in Baishizhou urban fabric. These streets connect number of small squares that now are unused due to the lack of infrastructure or blocked by hard fences. Hence, this network create numbers of problems for the locals.

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Social problems

Spatial problems

-Inequality between people -Fences and other boundaries fragment -Unsafe feeling and crime due to the space and break circulation neglected spaces -Undetermined spaces are poorly used by residents and leads to sanitary problems

Infrastructure problems -No spaces for leisure and communal interactions -Lack of greenery leads to overheating of the village

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communal build-

Hidden spaces - village connections

Village connections

urban fabric

connecting

To address problems mentioned before a network of communal buildings, common squares and green connecting streets is designed across the Baishizhou urban village. This network will create a secondary circulation route for people and encourage communities to form

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Hidden spaces - transformation steps

1. Analyse hard boundaries and insignificant buildings

2. Identify entrances and a back side

Hard boundaries break circulation and divide urban fabric into fragmented spaces. Small buildings have the same effect for maintaining the space

Identifying entrances show mostly used and visible side of the building as well as marking the back side illustrates less used part of an urban fabric

4. Open ground floors

5. Define streets

Ground floors of existing buildings are opened up to make circulation routes more fluent and enlarge common squares

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Greenery and lighting are added to attract attention and activate circulation

3. Embrace circulation

To connect areas with a broader circulation network of Baishizhou 3 main axis are embraces in North - West direction and 2 in East - West direction. These streets also connect potential squares

6. Vitalize Squares

Common squares are designed to accommodate needs of leisure, connectivity and greenery

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Hidden spaces - master plan

Master plan 1:1000 Master plan shows different intervention types and surfaces in the territory

Legend Elevated greenery Permeable pavement

layer/

metal

grill

Bench Playground net Vertical greenery / scaffolding Common pavement Main circulation roads Entrance

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Hidden spaces - master plan

Master plan 1:1000 Master plan shows different intervention types and surfaces in the territory

Legend Elevated greenery Permeable pavement

layer/

metal

grill

Bench Playground net Vertical greenery / scaffolding Common pavement Main circulation roads Entrance

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Hidden spaces - connecting street design

Connecting street design Streets are designed to address vertical and horizontal leftover spaces and injected with greenery and public infrastructure

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Hidden spaces - design tools

Vertical greenery Vertical greenery is hung up on a metal scaffolding connecting two buildings. Plants are places in the flower beds reachable from window on each floor. Lights are added at the bottom of each flower pot

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Elevated greenery Flower beds are elevated to 450mm to create urban furniture

Lowered greenery Pavement level greenery green patches are on the same level as pavement to create soft boundaries

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Hidden spaces - new street scape

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Common squares Pocket squares are design to act as a complimentary rain water filtration system that collects run off water from hard surfaces and slows down evaporation processes at the same time cooling down micro-climate. Elevated flower beds act as additional layer for filtration and soil and increase feeling of connectivity with nature What is more, layer of metal grill pavement allows circulation without interrupting greenery and filtration process bellow Finally, common infrastructure such as playground, benches and staircases leading to communal buildings are added to increase liveability

Filtration

Green-

Circula-

Communal infra-

Hidden spaces - square design

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Hidden spaces - square A

Square A This square can be approached from 4 different directions. It contains 3 elevated flower beds on different sides and paths that connect on the middle. The idea was to break straight axis with greenery that would grab an attention of a pasN senger and force it to come in through the middle of the square where are stairs leading to the common floors and playground for children

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Hidden spaces - square B

Square B This space is composed from two opposing staircases leading to communal floors. Additional to the staircases there are small amphitheatres facing green pocket with a N playground in the middle. Staircases are connected by the laundry lines providing a necessary function and additional shading to the playground

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Hidden spaces - main square

Example of main square Main square has two open ground floor buildings connected be the metal grill path. Elevated flower beds are planned next to it pushing circulation through open ground floor building floors and elevate greenery to the same level as open ground floor. What is more, paths are not straight but create rectangular shapes to form small pocket benches for people to face one another

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Hidden spaces - conclusion

Conclusion Over all, embracing and redesigning hidden spaces around residential spaces will have positive effect for the local micro-climate, communities around and Baishizhou urban village

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The green corridor Currently, the urban villages don’t fit into the vision of thriving Shenzhen. As a result they have build a hard concrete border, which has caused a physical and social divide and has left Baishizhou isolated from the rest of the city. Situated on the southern edge of the urban village of Baishizhou, the green corridor aims to reconnect the urban village with the modern megapole Shenzhen by replacing the border with qualitative public space.

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THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO PUBLIC SPACE

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The green corridor

EXISTING SITUATION

RE-CONNECTING

Surrounded by gated residential areas, an amusement park and a luxury golf course, Baishizhou is struggling to survive in the fast growing metropole Shenzhen. Unfortunatly, the ‘new and modern Shenzhenners’ don’t like urban villages because they see this as something backwards and outdated, that doesn’t fit in their vision of a thriving high-tech city. As a result, Baishizhou is enclosed and isolated from the rest of the city by concrete walls bordering the village. Because urban villages are well located within the urban fabric, they are the target of demolition and renewal used for new skyscrapers only benefiting the richer population. The hard boundary has disconnected the urban village with the rest of Shenzhen. Inside the village there is no greenery or public space. Yet, next to the village there is an abundance of open space which is not accessible to them.

The green corridor is focused on re-connecting Baishizhou with its surroundings and the rest of the city by creating a permeable border structure that opens up to the outside, yet it still gives the urban village a feeling of security. Because the green corridor is located in the South of the village, next to the busy Shennan Avenue, it will act as an entry to the urban village. By creating this permeable structure as a public space, it will generate a lot of activity at the border of the village re-connecting all different residents and visitors. The green corridor provides a real opportunity to experiment with urban planning. It’s not only important to design the permeable structure but also all the space surrounding it to create a qualitative addition to the urban fabric. Because of the location of the corridor, a nice inbetween space is created between: the houses of the urban village, the public space, greenery and the corridor.

How can we fade these existing borders which have created not only a physical divide, but also a social divide between different groups of residents?

The green corridor: re-connecting people, spaces and greenery by using vernacular and sustainable principles.

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Introduction to the green corridor

The 4 project fundamentals

Inside the green corridor

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1. Agriculture inclusive urbanism

2. Vernacular architecture

40 years ago, Shenzhen consisted out of fishing farms and agricultural land. Today, we know Shenzhen as ‘the large metropole’ without even a trace of it’s agricultural past. The migrants who come to Shenzhen left their rural backgrounds in hope for a better future. Currently, we’ve learned the many challenges of our food resources, production and transportation. It’s time to introduce new ways of local and sustainable farming that fit in our urban fabric.

The chinese culture and architecture has already existed over a millenia. Known for it’s flexible design, hierarchy of spaces, courtyards and passive cooling techniques, we should safeguard these traditions. This project uses the Siheyuan as an inspiration for interconnected courtyards and hierarchy of spaces on an urban scale. These spaces should act as communal spaces connected with nature.

3. The urgent need for public space

4. Reconnecting

The modern part of Shenzhen has an abundance of safe, green and pleasant public spaces. In the urban village there is not one qualitative public space where people can come together. This causes social isolation and negligence of the open space. Currently, the ‘outdoor public space’ is dark, unhygienic and unsafe. We see public space as a luxury but it’s a fundamental right for everyone. We should create open and safe public spaces which will create a healthy living environment.

There is a clear physical and social divide between urban villages and the modern part of Shenzhen. They have literally build a wall around the villages which makes the gap between different social groups bigger and bigger. How can we reconnect the urban village with the urban fabric of Shenzhen and how can we bring all inhabitants back together? The project is focusses on breaking boundaries and making connections on a physical, social, environmental and urban scale.

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Mapping the green corridor Transportation hub

Bus stop

Green corridor

Shared courtyard

Round public square

Aquaponics

Green space

By optimizing the existing metro station, this area can serve as a transportation hub providing a better connection.

The existing bus stop incorporated in the green corridor.

The green corridor as a permeable border and a connecting structure linking different elements in the urban fabric. Everyone can enjoy a walk along the greenery and urban village or it can act as a quick and safe passage way.

The green corridor creates an interesting inbetween space between the public structure and the buildings of the urban village. This inbetween space now functions as a shared courtyard for the inhabitants.

The round public square as a meeting point for inhabitants, visitors and passers by as an entrance to the urban village. The public square acts as the social connector, reuniting different social groups.

The aquaponics system as a soft border between the green corridor and the shared courtyards providing fresh vegetables and fish, while creating a pleasant space to relax. The water cools down the area.

The green corridor finally connects the existing green space with the urban village. Before, they would only act as trees along busy Shennan Avenue. Now, the green space can be used and it also cools down the village.

She

Shahe Street

connection to transportation

nna

nA ven

Entrance to the urban village

connection to commercial area

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The green corridor

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The green corridor connecting to the round public square, aquaponics, soft bordering courtyards, greenery and urban village. The entrance to Baishizhou acts as a connecting point of the different urban interventions, creating a vibrant public space where everything comes together. Physical and social connections are necessary for a healthy, safe and pleasant urban fabric.

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The modular structures catalogue For the green corridor project it was important to create a public infrastructure which is easy to assamble and inexpensive to proof that you can create qualitative interventions without big investments, only by using a well thought out design. This is a motivation that even small interventions can have a huge impact on the urban life quality. By using modular structures, the design is flexible and can be placed in any type of context. These structures are also sustainable because they can easily be reused and produce less waste then traditional structures. The mix of different infills of the structures create an interesting urban intervention, which makes it a pleasant experience for it’s users .

2 1 3 2

1 5

6 5

Flat roof structure The flat roof structure was the first structure created: a wooden frame with a floor surface and roof surface. To guarantee a feeling of privacy and safety for the inhabitants in the semi public courtyards, there is a net provided where plants can naturally grow on. This also gives an enclosed feelings for people using the green corridor. There are different variations on the basic structure: the green roof structure, netted structure and first floor structure. The first floor structure can be used to maintain the green roof, create an extra layer of public space or to connect to the first floor of a building.

Sloping roof structure The sloping roof structure will guide rainwater directly to the aquaponics pond and surrounding greenery. Because it opens up more to the forest side, it will give you the feeling you’re walking inside the forest while still being covered. A variation of sloping roof structure is also used for the round public square.

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1. the green corridor 2. soft border between the square and courtyards 3. the round public square 4. the semi public courtyards 5. forest 6.big sidewalk next to Shennan Avenue

The soft border structure The soft border structure is located between the public square and semi public courtyards. Because there will be a lot of activity and passage around the public square, it’s important to provide some privacy to the inhabitants using the semi public courtyards. Even though it’s a border between public and semi public, it was necessary to also give this border a connecting function. There is seating provided on both sides of the green border and you can still see a glimps from who’s on the other side. There will also be an information board where you can see activities that are organized and they can also give information about the green corridor, aquaponics, Baishizhou,... and so on.

The round public square structure Based on the principle of the sloping roof structures of the green corridor, the roof of the round public square slopes inward, providing the plants inside of the square of water. It’s necessary that the round public square provides shading because the sun and heat in Shenzhen can be unbearable.

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Detailing the green corridor The aquaponics system

Floating rice rafts in fishing ponds already existed in the 6th century in China. (Image from Wang Zhen’s book on agriculture, 13th century)

cooling air from the forest

Reduce amonia and nitrogen

Nutrients from effluent The movement of the fish loosen up the soil

Sustainable food production

Shelter and shading for the fish Reduce water temperature

Urban agriculture Self sufficient foodproduction Relaxing activity Water vapor attaches to the net and condenses into water for the plants

+ Efficient water use + Closed food system + Self-sustainable + Local and global food security + No negative impacts on soil + Stimulates healthy eating habits

Floating aquaponics raft The crops are in direct contact with nutrient water

Clear water is siphoned to the pond

Benefits of the aquaponics system

The crops purify the water

aquaponics system Because of the small footprint of the structure, plants can grow underneath the green corridor

harvest vegetables and fish (by community group)

water drainage

Anchoring

Fish provide nutrients for the plants

mechanical pump brings nutrient water to the vegetable garden

Sell vegetables and fish at the market on the public square

money to reinvest in the public infrastructure

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The round public square

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The round public square embracing public space The round square is located a few steps lower than ground level which creates a safe and enclosed feeling. It’s a real playground for public events, activities and gatherings. You can sit and relax on the stairs in a shaded environment while enjoying the greenery and activity that takes place in the circle. The round shape of the square subtly guides passersby around the public space. The public square is the social connector of the village.

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Detailing the round public square Examples of activities

protection from the sun

Children’s playground

Ping pong tournament Rainwater flows from the roof in to the green buffer zone

Safe and enclosed environment cooling air from the forest Small grasses,herbs and bushes cooling down the public square and increasing biodiversity

Green oasis

Aquaponics’ foodmarket

Evaporation

Water drainage

Neighborhood festivities

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Group lessons

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The semi public courtyard

Detailing the soft border

The semi-public courtyard The courtyard originated from the inbetweenspace between the green corridor, the public square and the urban village. This courtyard is a place for the inhabitants of the urban village, where they can relax and meet in a more private and green environment. The soft border created by the nets and plants gives them a safe and enclosed feeling while still being able to get a glimps of whats happening in the public square or green corridor. Based on the principal of vernacular architecture, these urban scaled courtyards provide passive cooling for the urban village. The aquaponics pond lays inside the courtyard which also creates a soft border between the courtyard and green corridor. The water provides extra cooling and provides a fun and relaxing enviroment. The courtyard is a place where the inhabitants of the urban village can truly relax in a green oasis.

The soft border While the project focusses on removing existing borders, it’s still important to provide inhabitants with an enclosed and safe feeling. The soft border, created by a net with plants, protects the urban village from the hustle and bustle from outside the village such as the busy Shennan Avenue, the crowded public square and the passage on the green corridor. Creating a new type of border, which still lets everyone have a look whats laying behind it, peaks and stimulates curiosity. The soft border still has a connecting function by providing a sitting area on both sides. The information board is inspired by the previous use of the hard concrete walls: on the walls people would place advertisements to inform everyone of available housing for rent. Now, the new soft border also has an information board where everyone can get informed on the social activities or they can get more information about the green corridor project with all it’s public functions.

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Bordering walls currently used as advertisement for housing

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Conclusion With cities, growing from farming villages to global metropoles overnight, we seem to have lost touch with creating qualitative (urban) spaces. The green and public space only seems available to people living in the modern part of the city. While the urban villages get overcrowded and to dense, the rest of the city makes it impossible for the urban villagers to find a place to escape for a moment. Modern Shenzhen seems to turn a blind eye to the urban village and it’s inhabitants. Yet, they have forgotten how rich of culture and opportunities these urban villages are. We as architects can play an important role into the change of the urban fabric. Starting with a small intervention on the border of the urban village, we can try to re-connect the physical and social connections. By creating mutal benefits, we can change the outdated opinions of urban villages and other urban contexts. Everyone deserves a safe and healthy living environment which means everyone has the right to a qualitative public space.

THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO PUBLIC SPACE

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The urban windcatcher In Shenzhen, the wet season is hot, oppressive, and overcast so the idea was to cool the city by using the windcatchers inside the courtyards with the small Alleys between the buildings, The wind catchers is in combination with an experience in the central patio.

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The Southern part of Baishizhou

The Urban windcatcher

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Windcatcher inside the courtyard

The windcatcher is in combination with an experience in the central patio.

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Demolishing strategy and courtyard creation The development strategy intention to preserve and renovate the existing buildings and not goes in the demolishing direction,for the courtyards creation some buildings should be demoilshed to have the opening between the buildings. The demolishing strategy is focusing on the old and low height buildings (buildings less than four floor heights ) and avoid the hight and new building demolishing. As the diagrams shows the demolished buildings and the new buildings that should be added to create the courtyard area.

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The alleys networks where all the courtyards entrance open to it, The alleys are a one way car roads connected to the main road in the urban village so all the buildings have accessibility to the roads. The windcathers placed in the middle of the courtyards and oriented in a way that all the airs moved from the courtyards towards the alley so we could create a kind of air circulation in the urban village.

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The windcatcher orientation The idea is to have a windcatcher inside the courtyards, As a monumental element in the middle of the courtyard to cool the courtyard and the surrounding buildings. The windcatcer opened to two directions, in the direction of the prevailing winds in Shenzhen.

The windcatcher should be Oriented in a way that the cold air goes toward the alley through the courtyard entrance and the surrounding buildings should not block the air flow,The buildings also can contribute by orienting the existing air from the courtyard.

The windcaher must be higher than the surrounding buildings and they should not be in a singel line or parallel, but rather they must be seperated and of different heights.

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windcatcher Idea The Idea is to have a windcatcher in the middel of the courtyard to ventilate the surrounding buildings with a water pool to humidify the air that comes out the wincatcher. In addition to cool down the air the pool will be as a fishing pool so it it can add activity to the surrounding areas. In addition to being a common space in the middle of the courtyard , it can be used to collect the rainwater in the winter.

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The windcatcher connection with the surrounding buildings The windcatcher is linked to the first floor plan in the surrounding buildings by a light structure stair so the user can enjoy walking around it and experience it. while the first floor area is a common space between the buildings with different activities such as gym, internet bar, restaurant , meetings spaces, offices and workshop spaces.

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The courtyard area is shaded by the surrounding buildings and in these shaded areas people can gather and sit there and enjoy the cold air that comes out the windcatcher. The fishing pool in front of the windcather where the people can enjoy fishing and having an unique experience in the central patio.

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Water Circulation The idea is to link between the pools so we have kind of a canal in between and by having a slope between two pools then we can control the water flow. By providing a collective point where all the water will be collected and from that point we could return the water again to the first pool These canals can help to decrease the air temperature of the city

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Facade Strategy Bringing back the vernacular Architecture theory that can work with the courtyards and the wind catchers ideas such as the Mashrabiya ideas and its functional such as: light control, Air flow regulation, Humidity control, Temperature Regulation, and visual privacy.

Windows shading

MATERIALS Natural fibres have showed to have a high capacity of heat absorption. If they are kept in their natural colour,due its lightness they have a high capacity of sun reflection, beside plants like rattan, agave and jute can be reproduced beside the rivers in China, generating a cycle of activation of the local economy.

Building’s Facade

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Enjoy watching the video https://youtu.be/OrCXjuptgB4

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Conclusion The urban villages are vibrant areas, rich of cultures and provide and array of opportunities for people comming to Shenzhen hoping for a better future. The bottom up planning has created an unique urban fabric that has peaked our curiosity. But unfortunately, these overcrowded, unsafe and sometimes squalor villages have some social and structural problems. This is why they face demolition this present day. We chose the path of conservation and upcycling of the urban village while keeping population density at its current level but making it a more liveable enviroment. We reconvert the apartments lacking basic infrastructure and add a more diverse use. The village gets upcycled by the reconstruction of the ground level, opening up spaces, remodelling the surface and adding greenery. By opening up and connecting spaces we create different layers of qualitative private and public spaces. The main goal is to accomodate the urban villagers but also including people from outside the urban village. By creating spaces for everyone, we create mutual benefits which ensures the existence of the urban villages in the future. Our projects focus on different elements of the urban village and they exist in different scales but all off them are based on the principal of flexible spaces that can adapt according to the use, keeping in mind that space functions can change over time. We create designs that make room for the bottom up approach which unfortunatly has been forgotten in modern megacity Shenzhen.

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Shenzhen Baishizhou Urban Village Study: Elements For Collective Publicness

KU LEUVEN FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE SINT-LUCAS GHENT 2020-21 MAIG 34 Design Studio Shenzhen: Urban Villages by Martine de Maeseneer

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Bengüsu Cebeci Shaimaa Daweri Eglè Drungilaité An Gelan Bert Lescouhier Miquel Vilalta Flo Lin Xiang

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