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Experimental approach to urban analysis of emerging urban conditions in China -3-
COLOPHON This booklet has been compiled as a result of the workshop ‘Behind the image’ in the cities Beijing and Shanghai, 2006, presented at the RAP architecture centre in Leiden, TU Delft and the Creative Industry Week, Shanghai. - November 2007 -
BEHIND THE IMAGE Experimental approach to urban analysis of emerging urban conditions in China
COMPOSED BY
PARTICIPANTS WORKSHOP
CHINESE STUDENTS
Marc Koehler
Anja Markovic
Blanche
Laura de Bonth
Anne Meiborg
Lizzy
Dirk Verhagen
Cecile Giezen
Autumn
Danique Zimmerman
Xujiaping
Eva Dubbelboer
Tom
Henk ten Kate
Irene
Hui-jun Chang
Allen
TEACHERS Marc Koehler Marc Schoonderbeek
WORKSHOP COMMISSION Anneke Jalink Bart van Lakwijk Dirk Verhagen Joost van Nes Laura de Bonth Milan Bergh Sander Potjer
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Jimmy Verhoeven Joost van Ettekoven Koen Kegel Philip Allin Sanne de Groot Sarah van Apeldoorn Simon Droog Sven van Oosten Tobias Beekman Tom Kuipers
CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
7
1. SCOPE
8
1.1 data anal y s is
8
1.2 i mage o f the cit y
8
1.3 spatial an alys is
9
2. THEMATI C EXPLORATION
10
2.1 ne two rks
10
2.2 publ ic do main
10
2.3 info rmal c it y
11
2.4 i c o no grap hy
11
3. APPROACH TO URBAN EXPLORATION
12
3 .1 Be i j i ng
12
3 .2 Shangh ai
13
4. URB AN SCAN
14
5. PHOTO ESSAY
18
6. U RB AN DNA
20
7. CASE STUDIES, two examples explained
22
7.1 Be hi nd th e imag e
22
7.2 Ve r ti c al cit y
23
BIOGRAPHY AND CONTACT
24
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INTRODUCTION BEHIND THE IMAGE
Experimental approach to urban analysis of emerging urban conditions in China
In the summer of 2006, 24 Dutch and 4 Chinese students
of a part of Beijing (7 days), and then it was refined and
6.
participated in a workshop on urban exploration in Chinese
applied to a part of Shanghai (7 days).
was translated in an elementary graphical manner aimed
Urban DNA (1 day): the urban scanner diagram
at making readable relations between aspects of the four
cities, initiated by Stylos, the study association of the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University of Delft. Architect
1.
Scope (4 days): The students initially explored
themes. Relations and contexts were discovered between
Marc Koehler and Marc Schoonderbeek, both teachers
general aspects of Chinese cities by comparing them with
use, appearance and structure of this specific part of the city.
connected to the Technical University of Delft, faculty of
each other and with other cities in the world.
This way allowed for a more complex view of the operation of
architecture, department Context & Modernity guided the
2.
this area to be created.
workshop in cooperation with students Laura de Bonth, Dirk
that followed the Scope-analysis, students defined 4 relevant
7.
Verhagen and Milan Bergh.
thematic themes: Networks, Public domain, Informal city and
resulted in specific questions and observations related to
Thematic exploration (3 days): From the discussions
Case studies (3 days): The urban DNA diagram
Iconography.
certain spaces along the route which were then further
China creates a new urban reality from the rapid development
3.
analysed in depth by small teams of students. An example
process of the market economy within a Communist state.
combining two contrasting ways of exploring the city (the
This reality is characterized and economical progress and a
tourist tour and the so called ‘derive’), both the cliché image
booming urban population. This causes cities such as Beijing
and a more ‘unknown’ image of the city were considered,
Twice, the students were given feedback by Chinese and
and Shanghai to undergo a rapid growth and transformation
integrating aspects of randomness and surprise in the
foreign architects and town-planners about the phenomena
process in terms of urban structure, program, use and
urban analysis. In the first part of the workshop on site, the
they came across during the analysis. The input of this
image. Due to the time pressure on the design phase of new
students visited the tourist highlights, architectural icons
external expertise was essential to the improvement of the
buildings and areas, they often lack sensitivity in regard to
and remarkable public spaces of the city in order to grasp its
process and refinement of the observations.
their physical, historical and social-cultural context, creating
‘cliché image’.
architecture with an instant identity. Because the urban
4.
Urban scan (1 day): On the second day, the
With this exhibition, we aim at presenting the results of the
condition of Chinese cities is too complex to be registered
limited image of the tourist tour changed to a different tour
workshop to all the people who joined and collaborated in
and analyzed with traditional means, the workshop ‘Behind
that concentrated on the exploration of specific local and
the workshop in order to exchange and reflect on ideas and
the image’ intends to develop strategies of urban analysis
surprising aspects of the environment. The Dérive, which
experiences. We hope it inspires professionals working in China
that explore the urban reality ‘under the surface’ relating
was used by the international ‘Situationists’ from the 1960s,
to continue developing more context-sensitive approaches
diverse aspects of urban use, form, structure and image, in
formed the foundation of this method. In this reasonably
to analysis and design. We also hope to encourage Chinese
search of authentic phenomena within a generic context.
random journey, each student documented a self chosen
students to come and study at the faculty of architecture of
These readings of the city can be the starting point of further
image theme with a camera. Combined, the images form an
TUDelft.
research or of design projects that aim to see ‘behind the
‘urban scanner’ creating a ‘hit list’ of particular phenomena and
image’.
revealing spots in which the four chosen themes interrelate. 5.
Approach to urban exploration (1 day): by
will be found at the end of this presentation.
Marc Koehler, Dirk Verhagen, Laura de Bonth
Photo essays (1 day): the urban scanner diagram
The workshop method encompassed the seven steps shown
resulted in several photo-series which reveal interesting
in this exhibition. The method was first tested on an analysis
reoccurring phenomena or patterns in public space. -7-
2. SCOPE Exploration on general aspects of Chinese cities by comparing Beijing and Shanghai with each other and with other cities in the world and with eachother.
2.1 data analysis AREA
POPULATION
GDP PER CAPITA
AIRPORTS
INTERNET USERS
RANDSTAD
BEIJING
SHANGHAI
BUENOSAIRES
LONDON
PARIS
CALCUTTA
NEWYORK Moscow
Parijs
AREA
Calcutta
2.2 image of the cit y
2.2.1 Google search
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Bron: www.ciaworldbook.com, 2004
2
549 km
2
2771 km
2
2263 km
2
2721 km
2
1036 km
2
2
11519 km
POPULATION
518,4 km
13,1 M
13,5 M
13,3 M
13,9 M
10,6 M
13,9 M
21,7 M
METROPOLITAN DENSITY (pop/km2)
2
6,6 M
4 651
14 479
16 398
4 042
4 173
3 542
13 456
1 760
GDP PER CAPITA
2.1.1 China compared with other nations
1419 km
33 097
4 303
6 510
9 239
53 489
2.1.2 Position Beijing and Shanghai among other metropolitain cities
62 200
1 068
46 510
Bron: Metropolitain World Atlas, Arjan van susteren, 010 Rotterdam, 2005
2.3 spatial analysis
Neighbor countries
Provinces of China
2.3.2 Beijing urban layers
Road network
Rail network
2.3.3 Traditional Beijing building structure, Hutongs
1500 1000 500 100
0
Rainfall
Geography
2.3.4 Shanghai urban layers
Major cities
Borders 2.3.5 Traditional Shanghai building structure, Lilongs
2.3.1 Spatial, geographical analysis China
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2 . T H E M AT I C E X P LO R AT I O N The interests of the twenty-four participating students have been the main input for the selection of four research topics. During this research we have tried to grasp the theoretical context in which operations at work in rapid developing cities such as Beijing and Shanghai can be placed. The four themes and related questions which we compiled will be discussed below:
2.1 NET WORKS Uncountable national, regional and city highways, bridges and train tracks are constructed in the Chinese landscape on a scale that is never shown before. A new generation of concepts and development strategies is implemented to keep up with the urbanization and transformation processes in China. Integral grubbing and traffic planning on city level are rapidly developed by Chinese planners with the assistance of foreign consultants. Chinese planners and politicians are actively involved with the structuring of the growth. In the suburbs of a large metropolis, such as Beijing and Shanghai, big satellite cities, business parks and logistics centers are being constructed. The image of the traditional city is changing. Infrastructural systems and the structure of open spaces become just as visually dominant as the city’s built-up structures. Regional networks infiltrate into the city and leave traces of globalization, speed and prosperity. The scale and speed in which the Chinese urban networks develop is unknown to Western European cities. Beijing and Shanghai
both accommodate different modes of transport networks such as highways, train tracks and metro tunnels across the urban fabric. The strong and fast economical growth of the last decade raised the demand for new networks with a high performance. In Shanghai and Beijing this demand is treated in different ways. Beijing is building 8 lane ring roads around the expanding city, while Shanghai is moving flows to a second, vertical layer crossing the existing city. What is the impact on the local dynamic of the urban fabric of the explosive growth of networks? What do these generic infrastructural networks do and mean for specific local contexts?; do they cut up or link areas? are there specific aesthetic qualities related to these structures that create a new authentic urban image or are they only examples of an ever growing globalized generic city? In what way are new informal networks generated around these formal structures and what qualities as public spaces and public domains can these spaces provide?
2.2 PUBLIC SPACE The fast economical growth of China is mirrored not only by an urban growth never shown before but also by an incredible change in creating and designing public space. A new significance, awareness and attention is given to planning of open public space. Besides the designed public realm, so called ‘left over spaces’- spaces in between buildings functioning as public domains - come into presence. These are unplanned spaces which are being obtained by the local population. In these spaces people create new meeting areas where a lot of social interaction takes place. To describe ‘public space’ the following definition is used. ‘Public spaces are places where interaction between different social groups can take place and takes place.’ (1) The usage and functioning of the public space is dependent on many factors such as the way it links to its context and how it is accessed, the way it is designed, the variety in the mix of people and activities that take place and -10-
the appearance of the space in aesthetic terms. Combined these factors determine the levels of liveliness, social-interaction and recognizability of the space, which have been mapped by the students. China is known for its old habits and traditions which take place in the public domain, such as the morning ritual ‘Tai Chi’, pallet dancing and street calligraphy. These are places where a lot of social interaction is taking place which makes it an important aspect of the city surroundings. A large part of the interaction takes place on squares and in parks. What part of these traditions still takes place in the public domain? Does traditional use of public space change due to economical growth and globalisation or is the usage changed and adapted in new spaces? What are the differences in appearance and usage of planned public domain and the so called “left over spaces” in China?’ (1) Maarten Haaier, Arnold Reijndorp, 2001 “Op zoek naar nieuw publiek domein”
2.3 INFORMAL CIT Y The opening up of China by Deng Xiaoping caused a flow of business, investors, architectst and tourist towards the Chinese cities. Cities as Shanghai and Beijing are rapidly functioning as a globalizing city. The rising of these cities as also needs to account for the spatial and socio-economic transformations at the local level. What is the impact of the new physical environment on the social-economic fabric of the city at the local level? In what way occur new opportunities for informal activites as reaction on growing tourism, globalizing economies.
factor in providing information of these changes in the urban fabric. Few aspects are written on the interrelation between the remaining social behavior of inhabitants of the lilongs and hutongs and the transforming physical structure of the city. Which traditional uses of the public space remain and in what way do they adapt to the physical changes of newly built structures in the centre?
Secondly the last decade’s hutongs and lilongs have been replaced by commercial complexes and residential apartment blocks. They are now within the inner city and their residents have relocated elsewhere. The settlements that do survive are under threat of eviction. The media plays an important
2.4 ICONOGRAPHY Beijing is changing in ‘a city of icons’. Under the pressure of a new generation of political changes, reshaped conceptions and a prosperous economy, the former pale, horizontal city transforms into a colorful vertical city. Vertical buildings, unique in their environment, freestanding, incompatible and often figurative arise in the urban landscape. A comparable process is shown in Shanghai. Till the early 1980s the city was a monotonous sea of grey and shapeless apartment buildings interspersed with numerous traditional lilongs. The most impressive buildings, heritage from Western influences, stood along the Bund. Today they are overshadowed by hundreds of modern high-rise buildings. Coming out of nowhere Beijing and Shanghai rank among the top 10 most important cities in 2003 as locations for global architectural firms and their major and even iconic projects in the world-city network(1). Events as the Olympic games of 2008 and the World Expo 2010 stimulate this condition. The word iconography comes from the Greek εικον (image) and γραφειν (to
write) and literally means “image writing”. (2) In architecture iconography is often seen as modeling and writing the image of a building façade. Still the theme iconic architecture is a subjective concept, which is approached in many different ways. Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown claim that a building is of value when it has a symbolic meaning expressed through architectural iconography. Other authors describe an icon as an object that is in contrast with it’s surroundings in size, form or color or if a famous designer links his name to a certain building. The question researched are in what way iconic buildings in Shanghai and Beijing influence the aesthetic experience, orientation and image (as in branding) and as in ‘collective memory’ of the existing city. What is their impact on different scales of the urban fabric, from global to local? In what way is there a correlation between the identity or iconic expression of a building and the liveliness of its surroundings? How does it reflect on different users of the public space? (1) Ren, Xuefei. 2005. “World Cities and Global Architectural Firms: A Network Approach.” (2) www.wikipedia.com
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3. DÉRIVE, experimental approach to urban exploration The flow of information in our current society is playing a bigger role in our perception of the world and its large cities. The reflection of a city’s identity does not always correspond with the individual character of cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. The formal identity of the city has primarily been tested during a bus tour visiting tourist attractions, architectural icons and striking public areas of the city. In order to experience the city in a different and innovative way, we stepped away from the tourist architecture routes. The new route was based on a straight line drawn on the map, cutting through the urban fabric of the city. Every participant walked the same line, as precisely as possible, mapping their own fascinations. By approaching an obstacle the rule first right, first left, first left, first right was followed, to come back on the right track again.
FORBIDDEN CITY
BUND Huangpu rivier TIAN’ANMAN SQUARE
START
START 1st RING
3rd RING
END
END
3.1 Highlights and dérive, Beijing
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DÉRIVE BEIJING 4,4 KM
TOURIST EXPERIENCE
2nd RING
This method of crossing the city is based on the Situationist’s Dérive (1957-1972) The researched the psychogeographical effects in the city; the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals. The dérive is an experimental method of aimless wandering through the city, follows the whim of the moment. In a dérive one or more persons during a certain period drop their usual motives for movement and action, their relations, their work and leisure activities, and let themselves be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters they find there. (Theory of the Dérive, Guy Debord 1958)
BUND Huangpu rivier
END
DÉRIVE SHANGHAI 1,6 KM
TOURIST EXPERIENCE
START
3.2 Highlights and dérive, Shanghai
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4. URBAN SCAN Photo registration of the experience of the dérive NETWORKS
Transitions_ Transfer zone_ Framed movement_ Junctions_
PUBLIC SPACE
Intensity of people_ Green spaces_ Actions and use_ Entrances_
INFORMAL CITY
Streetvendors_ Baggers_ Telephone numbers_ 'RPHVWLÀFDWLRQB
ICONOGRAPHY
Billboards night time_ Billboards day time_ Transparancy_
NETWORKS Movements Transitions Transfer Presentation
s n t
I m
PUBLIC SPACE
g
M o v e
a
m
e
Western ornaments_
e
Playing Sitting Moving Standing Green
LIVELYNESS VISIBILITY
Chinese ornaments_ P
t y
ACCESIBILITY
l
c
e
A c t i v
i
Creative city Contrast Domestification
a
INFORMAL CITY
ICONIC ARCHITECTURE
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Billboards Transparency Ornaments Materials
Materials_
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4. URBAN SCAN dérive
START
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5 . P H O T O E S S AY ’ S The urban scan resulted in several photo-series which reveal interesting reoccurring phenomena or patterns in public space.
‘P E OP LE S LE E P I NG’ B eijing, 2006 B y : An n ek e Jal in k
‘ TR ANSI TI ONS’
B eijing, Shanghai, 2006 B y : L au ra de B onth
‘P E OP LE I N GR E E N’
B eijing, Shanghai, 2006 B y : Dan iq u e Zimmer man
‘P EOP LE SLEEP ING’ B e i j i n g, 2 0 0 6 B y : Anne k e J a l i nk
B eijing, Shanghai, 2006 B y : Tobias B eek man
‘ TR ANSITIONS’
‘ENTRANCES’
‘P EOP LE IN GREEN’
‘COMMERCIAL EXPRESSION NIGHTTIME’
B e i j i n g, S h a n g h a i , 2 0 0 6 B y : L a u ra d e B o nt h
B e i j i n g, S h a n g h a i , 2 0 0 6 B y : Da ni q u e Zi m m e r m a n
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‘F R AME D MOV E ME NT ’
B eijing, Shanghai 2006 B y : M il an B erg h
B eijing, 2006 B y : Eva D ubbelboer, Jimmy Ver hoeven, en Dir k Ver hagen
‘FR AMED MOVEMENT ’ B e i j i n g, S h a n g h a i , 2 0 0 6 B y : To b i a s B e e k m a n
‘COMMERCIAL EXPRESSION DAY TIME’ B eijing, 2006
‘P EOP LE SLEEP ING’ B e i j i n g, 2 0 0 6 B y : Anne k e J a l i nk
‘ TR ANSITIONS’
B e i j i n g, S h a n g h a i , 2 0 0 6 B y : L a u ra d e B o nt h
‘P EOP LE IN GREEN’
B e i j i n g, S h a n g h a i , 2 0 0 6 B y : Da ni q u e Zi m m e r m a n
‘P E OP LE S LE E P I NG’ B eijing, 2006 B y : An n ek e Jal in k
‘FR AMED MOVEMENT ’
‘ TR ANSI TI ONS’
‘ENTRANCES’
‘P E OP LE I N GR E E N’
B e i j i n g, S h a n g h a i , 2 0 0 6 B y : To b i a s B e e k m a n
B e i j i n g, S h a n g h a i 2 0 0 6 B y : M i l a n B e rg h
B eijing, Shanghai, 2006 B y : L au ra de B onth
B eijing, Shanghai, 2006 B y : Dan iq u e Zimmer man
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RECREATION
7. URBAN DNA SOCIAL COHESION
Re-presenting and relating rithmes and patterns in pu
6. URBAN DNA Re-presentation and relating rhythms and patterns in PLASTIC CHINESE WOOD WESTERN
METAL The urban DNA is a simplified re-presentation of phenomena, rhythms and patterns discovered during the dérive. In this way relation ORNAMENTS GLASS STONE
between different series can be found. Interesting and notable relations, defined the position and topic for more in depth case studies.
N NE TE TWWOORRKKSS
Functions_
LAUNDRY COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL RECREATION
SOCIAL COHESION BUS
CAR
Mobility_
CHINESE WESTERN BIKE ORNAMENTS
PLASTIC WOOD LAUNDRY METAL GLASS STONE
P PU UBBL LI ICC SSPPAA C E
Intensity of people_
I NIFNOF RO M A AL L CCI ITTYY RM
Green spaces_ Actions and use_ Streetvendors_ Telephone numbers_ 'RPHVWLÀFDWLRQB
NO I CI OC NO O G GR RAAPPHHYY
Ornaments_
TOURIST PASSER-BY RESIDENT COMMERCIAL BUS RESIDENTIAL RECREATION
CAR
PLASTIC WOOD BIKE METAL
SOCIAL COHESION GLASS STONE
CHINESE WESTERN COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL ORNAMENTS RECREATION
LAUNDRY SOCIAL COHESION
CHINESE WESTERN ORNAMENTS BUS
CAR PLASTIC
Materials_
WOOD METAL LAUNDRY BIKE GLASS STONE
AREA OF CASE STUDY: Behind the image The skyline of Pudong in relation to the COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL RECREATION BUS
AREA OF CASE STUDY: VERTICAL CITY
diversity of flows and activities that are
CAR
Bund, different times of the day.
The elevated highway creates a second
R
taken place in the public domain of the
U
GP
AN HU
E RIV
layer of experience
SOCIAL BIKE COHESION
AREA OF CASE STUDY: PUBLIC SPACE
CHINESE WESTERN ORNAMENTS
LAUNDRY
ROUTE
The
urban
DNA
is
a
TOURIST
PASSER-BY
during the dérive. In this way
relations
between
different series
can be
found.
Interesting
and
notable relations, defined
BILLBOARD AT NIGHT BIKE
BILLBOARDS DAYTIME
EB
TH
D
UN
AD RO
and patterns discovered
CAR
AN
of phenomena, rhythms
RESIDENT
Billboards night time_ Billboards day time_
N’ YA
simplified re-presentation
BUS
the position and topic for more in depth case studies.
D OA
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blic space
public space
AREA OF CASE STUDY: INFORMAL CITY Domestification of public space. Intensity
AREA OF CASE STUDY: PUBLIC SPACE
and flows of people high, streetvendors, low speed movements but hidden for
AD RENMIN RO
G G HUAN OF CHEN TEMPLE
RENMIN ROAD
YU YUAN PARK
GUCHENG PARK
tourism. No western ornament.
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7 . C A S E S T U D I E S 2 e x amp les expla ined 7.1 BEHIND THE IMAGE The skyline of Pudong functions as an important landmark which attracts visitors towards the Bund during day and night. The towers in Pudong have been placed
4
carefully in such a way that they form an instant skyline, visible from the heart of
3
the city (the Bund). This is a remarkable
4 4
condition, taking in consideration that skylines in general are only visible from a distance of the center. To experience the iconic Manhattan skyline image, one has to
2
cross the river, out of the center. Shanghai has the fantastic ambiguous quality that
3
one can experience its skyline from its urban heart.
1
When one walks further down the river, however, the image of the skyline collapses.
7.1.1 Panorama positions 1,2,3 and 4
Walking along the Huangpu river reveals a facade of skyscrapers only visible from a specific zone at the Bund. The famous skyline image that is recognized as the
2
iconic Shanghai image – seen in most postcards from the city- only appears on this specific small zone, concentrating tourist and leisure activities to this area, with the result that other areas along the river are much less lively and underdeveloped. The skyline is like a film set on the scale of the city. In the future, the development of more
1
skyscrapers
at
Pudong
will
probably
enlarge the zone at the Bund side from which the skyline can be experienced in an iconic way, enlarging the potential for tourist and leisure activities at this side of the river.
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7.1.2 Panorama view taken from positions 1,2,3 and 4
7.2 VERTICAL CIT Y The elevated highway creates a second layer of experience. In this way the commercial expression of buildings works on two levels. The city becomes vertical layered with different speeds, and
ROOFTOPS
participants. BANKS APPARTMENTS HOTEL
Roads that are in one step connected to the elevated highway tend to be the most profitable places for high scale facilities to ground themselves. The connection of the urban fabric to these high scale and elevated spaces of movement offers opportunities for building or neighborhoods to become visible on a higher level and strengthen the verticality of the city.
BILLBOARDS
HYBRID PROGRAM SHOPS MARKETS PUBLIC SPACES
7.2.1 Different experience
7.2.2 Movie fragments: view on top and under the highway
Moving on top of the elevated highways, a stunning chorographical view arises. Skyscrapers, luxurious apartments and hotels dominate the skyline. Taxies, tour busses and cars throughout the city landscape where travellers experience the city Shanghai as if they were in a film scene. The real daily chaos takes place beneath the highway. The street image is being dominated by an immense amount of cars and cyclists moving up and down, the gathering of local informal systems, salesmen and shop owners all being connected to the detailed network of the city. The space beneath the highway is characterised by a mix of regional and local movements. This results in a hybrid program in a complex composition. Meeting opportunities occur very often.
7.2.23 Transfer nodes and connected streets
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BIOGRAPHY AND CONTACT Biography: Marc Koehler
Biography: Laura de Bonth en Dirk Verhagen
Marc Koehler (1977) is an architect based in
Laura de Bonth and Dirk Verhagen both
Amsterdam. His studio is involved in a wide
graduated at the Technical University of
range of activities and interests crossing the
Delft in 2007 and started their urban de-
fields of architecture, urbanism and cultural
sign and research office, ‘urban synergy’. In
analysis. He also works as a part-time staff
cooperation with professionals, academia,
member and teacher at the TU Delft, Faculty
and locals, they strive to combine theoreti-
of Architecture, section Context & Moderni-
cal knowledge with practical experience in
ty. In the ‘behind the image project’ in China,
the fields of urban design and research. As
Marc Koehler participated as a teacher and
mediator between the academic world and
project coordinator. Projects and essays by
the practical field, new insights are gained
Marc Koehler have been published in OASE,
through case studies of practice, which
de Architect, Items, DAX-magazine, het NRC,
create a thoroughly understanding of sub-
BOUW, Bauwelt, Baby Mgz.,Bouwwereld,
ject and context. In the ‘behind the image’
Stedebouw, Stedebouw en Architectuur and
workshop they participated as coordinating
elsewhere.
students and editors of the exhibitions and publications.
marc@marckoehler.nl laura@urbansynergy.nl dirk@urbansynergy.nl
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China creates a new urban reality from the rapid development process of the market economy within a Communist state. This reality is characterized and economical progress and a booming urban population. This causes cities such as Beijing and Shanghai to undergo a rapid growth and transformation process in terms of urban structure, program, use and image. Due to the time pressure on the design phase of new buildings and areas, they often lack sensitivity in regard to their physical, historical and social-cultural context, creating architecture with an instant identity. Because the urban condition of Chinese cities is too complex to be registered and analyzed with traditional means, the workshop ‘Behind the image’ intends to develop strategies of urban analysis that explore the urban reality ‘under the surface’ relating diverse aspects of urban use, form, structure and image, in search of authentic phenomena within a generic context. These readings of the city can be the starting point of further research or of design projects that aim to see ‘Behind the image’.
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