During China's rapid urbanization, hundreds of millions of rural inhabitants migrated into cities
while leaving their children behind in the villages. The separation with parents causes the negative
transformation of family welfare supply structure. As a result, many “left-behind” children display
characteristics that include loneliness, misconduct, low self-esteem and con dence.
The thesis utilises the theory of welfare pluralism that argues that children's welfare is not only
received from family, but also from the community, state, nation and voluntary organizations.
Through the siting and designing of a communal public space, the project provides compassionate welfare services from the community level for left-behind children that increases the community’s social capital.
