XJTLU_ STUDIO SPATIAL DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT by christian nolf

TRANSITION

STUDIO CDE207 (14/15) SPATIAL DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT KIM, NOLF & SEWELL

STUDIO CDE207 (14/15) : SPATIAL DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT Fall Semester 2014 - 2015 BEng in Civic Design Department of Urban Planning and Design XJTLU This module aims at: - Introducing ways of thinking about the quality of cities and the built environment; - Understanding urban design principles and elements; - Learning a working knowledge of urban design appropriate for a range of planning contexts; - Acquiring practical skills associated with site analysis and urban design practice.

TEACHING STAFF:

STUDENTS : Bowei Zhang Cai Xu Chong Chen Dongrun Lian Guo Aiqin Haokun Fu Hong Chenling Jinxi Song Lei Chen Long Feng Miao He Peiao Tan Shanshan Tao Shaohua Hu Shichao Xu

Shu Shen Siyu Chen Wan Bao Wang Jiayue Wang Ting Wei Wei Xiaoxiao Wei Xingyuan Chen Xu Wang Xu Xiaoyue Xuanyu Wu Yi Zhu Yingzhu Li Yixuan Cao Zou Huaqi

Joon Kim Christian Nolf Jessica Sewell GUEST LECTURER: Lei Wu | SIPDRI (Suzhou Industrial Park Design & Research Institute) JURY MEMBERS MID REVIEW AND FINAL REVIEW: Florence Vannoorbeeck | SSS Studio (Belgium- China) Yong Huang | Hammons School of Architecture/ Drury University (USA) Yiwen Wang | UPD _ XJTLU Raffaele Pernice | UPD _ XJTLU Booklet edited by Christian Nolf

TRANSITION 00 01 02 03

Introduction Site Appraisal Design Brief Urban Design Projects

Introduction

This year 3 studio of the module Spatial Design and the Built Environment focused on ‘Phase One Industrial Zone’, a 300 ha industrial zone located in Suzhou Industrial Park. Originally situated in the outskirts of the city, this industrial area is at present at the centre of a dense and continuous urban fabric. Due to its strategic position between the historic heart of Suzhou and the dynamic developments occurring around Jinji and Dushu lakes, the site is under pressure. Rising property values, less tolerance for possible nuisances and new requirements in terms of industrial production (accessibility, flexibility, cheap labour) start to question the viability of industrial activities in that part of the city. Everything indicates that in the medium and long term, the industrial activity in this place is compromised and should leave the place to a reconversion project. In this sense, this site is a representative example of the emergent issues on the reconversion of industrial sites of the first generation in China’s current urban expansion.

XJTLU _ CDE207(14/15) SPATIAL DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT I _ KIM, NOLF & SEWELL ‐ FINAL REVIEW 2014‐12‐18

If this site is to become a new and mixed urban quarter, the questions that rise in terms of urban design are: how to make this site a coherent part of the city?; how can it fit into the urban system(s) and, at the same time, bring something unique to the city by its own qualities and specificities?; and, which could be the relevant criteria and plausible scenarios to guide and frame an urban reconversion project? To answer these questions, the studio was organised in two parts: first a general site appraisal, and second specific urban design proposals. PROJECT: METHODOLOGY I. Site Appraisals

II. Urban Design Project

? 1. Density and typologies

? 2. Centralities and facilities

? 3. Blue and green structure

? 4. Transportation and accessibility

PROJECT SITE

500m

1000m

Site Appraisal

In order to position the site as a whole in its immediate and larger context, the first part - Site Appraisal - analysed the specificities and potentialities of the site from four different perspectives: 1. The analysis of Density and Typologies gives an overview of the typologies of the blocks surrounding the site, in terms of density (FAR), permeability, public and collective spaces, position of entrances, as well as potentially interesting landmarks on or around the site, etc. 2. The analysis of Centralities and Facilities mapped the various health-, commercial-, leisure- and other public facilities on the site and around, at the local, city and regional scale. 3. The analysis of the Blue and Green Structure identified the origin, character and (informal) uses of the landscape features crossing the site at the local, city and regional scale. 4. The analysis of Transportation and Accessibility identified aspects of road hierarchy, public transportation and soft mobility on and around the site. For each theme, a group of 8 students investigated the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s present condition and major challenges for the future. This included an analysis and critical evaluation of plans, visions and projects concerning the area.

Density and typologies

Centralities and facilities

Blue and green structure

Transportation and accessibility

Design Brief

The second part of the studio - Urban Design Projects - focused on the design of specific sites in the area. For each site, a group of 4 people composed of experts from the different analysis themes was asked to develop a mixed-use neighbourhood containing: - Public and green spaces covering at least 30% of the total surface of each site; - Built-up volumes (residence, workspace, commercial facilities…) with an average density similar to the surrounding blocks; - One neighbourhood-centre per block (with local facilities such as shops, kindergarten…); - Other functions inspired by the features of the site (e.g. cultural space, sports facility…); In addition to this general program, the projects had to address 3 spatial principles. These principles, based on the conclusions of the site appraisal, aim at maintaining the main qualities of the area, at reinforcing its (post-industrial) identity and at guaranteeing an urban character in the redevelopment projects: Principle 1: Be responsive to the specific border conditions and offer an increased permeability across the blocks (focus on soft mobility connections between nodes and centralities). Principle 2: Enhance the existing canal network as the support of ecology and public green space (each piece of green space must be connected to it). Principle 3: Make a selection of buildings/structures/ spaces with good potential for reconversion, maintain them and propose a new (public) function.

DESIGN BRIEF

Principle 1: be responsive to the specific border conditions and offer an increased permeability across the blocks (focus on soft mobility connections between nodes and centralities).

CBD

Future train station

Auchan

Future metro station

Principle 1

DESIGN BRIEF Principle 2: enhance the existing canal network as the support of ecology and public green space (each piece of green space must be connected to it).

Principle 2

XJTLU _ CDE207(14/15) SPATIAL DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT I _ KIM, NOLF & SEWELL ‐ FINAL REVIEW 2014‐12‐18

DESIGN BRIEF

Principles 1+2+3

XJTLU _ CDE207(14/15) SPATIAL DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT I _ KIM, NOLF & SEWELL ‐ FINAL REVIEW 2014‐12‐18

Principles 1 + 2 + 3

DESIGN BRIEF Principle 3: make a selection of buildings/structures/ spaces with good potential for reconversion, maintain it and propose a new (public) function.

Principle 3

Urban Design Projects

Colour Impressions

Intersection Block

Green Canal

Connective Tapestry

Gathering Node

Active Community

COMB-ining Functions

Chessboard

Colour Impressions YI ZHU, MIAO HE, PEIAO TAN, XU WANG

Situated in the north-west corner of the area, this site is characterized by the presence of the Auchan shopping mall. The mall, well-located at the crossing of two major roads, plays an important role as a centrality and connection between two parts of the city: the older Suzhou and SIP. Our project aims at reinforcing the urban role of the shopping mall by improving its accessibility and anchoring it in the public space. A new commercial-oriented plaza on the back of the mall serves as a new entrance, while the rest of the site - presently wastelands, oversized parking spaces and declining factories - is converted for new business and residential functions. The whole project is structured by a linear park connected to the water edges. In order to create a sense of place and identity across the multifunctional site, the colour red is adopted as the main color of street furniture, building structures and landscape elements.

100m

200m

Connective Tapestry WEI WEI, YINGZHU LI, BOWEI ZHANG, YIXUAN CAO

This very large site is currently covered by undefined green spaces and large industrial buildings. Interestingly, some industrial buildings have been converted, such as an old pumping station into a cluster for creative industries. Building on this transformation dynamic, our project proposes to weave in the (post) industrial fabric a new open space structure to increase its permeability and accessibility â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;from withinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The new open space structure is a linear park with branches linking together dead-ending streets to the waterfront. Like a strip of tapestry, the linear park gets diversified layouts according to thematic sub-parts: kids, shopping, sports, education. Connecting different functions and people, this project creates a lively environment and base for future transformations.

100m

A A

50m

100m

Green Canal JIAYUE WANG, AIQIN GUO, FENG LONG, XIAOYUE XU

Composed of three blocks, this site is crossed from North to South by a canal. The main design concept of the project is to transform this canal into the backbone of a new walkable, ecological and healthy community. Two main elements of the built fabric are maintained at the extremities of the site. In the north, a large warehouse is converted into a science and technology museum; in the south, a dense cluster of buidlings is converted into a health care centre. In between the two, the canal front is arranged as a riverside park and gives access to new residential and local functions (including a neighbourhood centre and kindergarten).

PROJECTÂ SITE

Ecological connection and walkable

100m

50m

100m

COMB-ining functions CAI XU, XIAOXIAO WEI, SHICHAO XU, LEI CHEN

Bordered on three sides by heavy traffic roads, the main qualities of this site are its waterfront and a cluster of old industrial buildings. To frame its transformation, our project defines a open-space structure anchored on the waterfront. Resembling a comb shape, different fingers of the new open space clarify the pedestrian and vehicle circulation and articulate different functional zones. The cluster of old factories is maintained and converted into a large plaza with new office and commercial building. Another two factories are transformed into a kindergarten and a gym. The rest of the site is composed of residential areas with various typologies (from villas to high-rise towers) taking advantage of view, light, and access to greenery.

100m

Intersection Block SIYU CHEN, HAOKUN FU, DONGRUN LIAN

The site is situated at the crossing of two very important roads. If they bring a great commercial potential to the site, the roads also engender important nuisance that reduce the site’s habitability. In response to this, our project proposes to border the street sides with an L-shaped continous built front hosting commercial functions (including a cinema complex on the corner). The inside, protected by the commercial front, is organized around a central public garden connected to the water system and bordered by ‘quiet’ functions -such as a home for seniors, a kindergarten and local facilities. Attracting various people (residents and visitors, old and young) at different times of the day, the combination of different functions around a shared space guarantees a highly mixed neighbourhood and continuous activity. On the southern side, a specific typology mixes vertically the commercial plinth with apartment towers on top enjoying the view and sunlight.

100m

50m

100m

Gathering Node XUANYU WU, WAN BAO, JINXI SONG, SHAOHUA HU

Bordered by two busy roads and the canal and filled with warehouses, this large site is at present a strong physical and visual barrier in the urban tissue. The concept is to open it and structure it around desirable pedestrian connections: to the east, to the north, to the south (in the continuity of the road coming from an important neighbourhood), and in diagonal towards a bridge along the waterfront. These axes, complemented by a separated road-loop for cars, are designed as linear parks and give access to new residential neighbourhoods. At the node of these different axes, a plaza is designed, bordered by commercial functions. Along the water, an old industrial building is transformed into a shelter for open air market and cultural activities.

100m

200m

Active Community MIAOQIAN XU, XINGYUAN CHEN, CHONG CHEN, SHANSHAN TAO

Well accessible from the road and facing an international science park with over 10.000 workers, this site seems very attractive for business activities. This is evidenced by the recent conversion of an old industrial building into a service working space. However, crossed by unfriendly and busy roads, the site still lacks vitality. To develop an active community integrating business, service and residential functions, our project proposes a new waterfront park on the contour of the island formed by the surrounding canals. Passing under the roads, it creates a green belt that links together all the functions. Existing businesses, complemented by a school, a clinic and other public facilities, form a cluster. More to the north, the quieter parts are dedicated to housing functions structured by green fingers connected to the waterfront.

100m

50m

100m

Chessboard HUAQI ZOU, SHEN SHU, CHENLING HONG, TING WANG

Situated near a future subway station in the south-east corner, this site can be considered a main entrance to the whole (post) industrial area. In order to maximize its permeability, the site is subdivided like a chessboard by a new grid of blue-green public spaces. These interstitial public spaces play a role for soft mobility, for ecology and for water collection and purification. Inside the blocks, diverse functions ensure 24-hour activity on the site: a new mall is developed near the station while space for events, culture and service economy take place inside reconverted industrial elements. In complement, various housing typologies are proposed, adapted to their environmental qualities (quietness, view, accessibility).

100m

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) Department of Urban Planning and Design EB Building, 111 Ren’ai Road Dushu Lake Higher Education Town Suzhou Industrial Park P. R. China 215123 http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn For more information please contact: Ms. Sophie Chen, UPD secretary Email: Suying.Chen@xjtlu.edu.cn Telephone: +86 (0)512 8816 1782

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is a pioneering international university based in the World Heritage city of Suzhou on China’s east coast. XJTLU takes a unique approach to international education that combines, encourages and develops the teachings of its two founding institutions, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China and the University of Liverpool, UK. The Urban Planning and Design Bachelor and Master programmes offer an international perspective alongside enabling students to grapple with the demands of rapid urbanisation in China. Students learn how to make existing and new cities better places while promoting and achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability. These transferable skills provide the platform for success in future study or employment in planning and urban design related fields.

TRANSITION

Studio CDE207 (14/15) SPATIAL DESIGN AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT KIM, NOLF & SEWELL