DIANA AGREST AND MARIO GANDELSONAS MASTER PLAN FOR THE XUJIAHUI AREA
From :
http://www.ag-architects.com/urban/xjh-master.htm (originally posted by zOrg of the SSC forum)
Xujiahui is at a point halfway between an old city and a new city. It is made up of a patchwork of separate and distinct areas, such as a cluster of historical buildings, the Shanghai Sports City, the Design and Decoration Center, the Universities, the Medical Centers, and the Shopping around Xujiahui Square. This patchwork is further characterized by the lack of balance between the rapid growth and the quality of urban spaces. The future Xujiahui should hellp establish a new balance that would maintain certain existing elements and variety offered by the patchwork, while new elements would be created and overlapped to produce a new dynamic development.
While there is great potential, we also recognize that some problems have developed as a by-product of the great speed at which Xujiahui has developed. With the high densities produced by the development of the district in the last 10 years and the increased use of cars, traffic has become a serious problem for the fluid-functioning of the district. Traffic congestion, overlap of conflicting traffic functions, and parking problems are some symptoms. However, we consider that one of the major problems in Xujiahui is not traffic but the general lack in both the quantity and quality of pedestrian and public spaces.
Our project envisions Xujiahui as a green cultural district where museums, new public spaces, entertainment centers, cultural institutions, and hotels are organized as a network. Our Vision, based on some of the wonderful qualities of the district and on the city’s tradition and past, guides our plan as the road that should lead to its future. The various types of green will not only beautify the city and create pedestrian friendly spaces, they will also serve to bring sustainability to the city. Our project transforms the district into an International Urban Center, where the present centralized retail activities will be balanced and enriched by a cultural network of institutions and places as well as by a new Business Center.
XUJIAHUI SQUARE
The Xujiahui Square is the most prominent space in the Xujiahui area, and as such, it embodies the identity of the district. It needs to become a symbolic space rich in character and activity. At present, both cars and pedestrians are plagued by a poor circulation system: heavy traffic congestion is accompanied by a set of complicated pedestrian links between the five corners that frame the intersection. This new Xujiahui Square will be framed on the northeast side by a semi-elliptical water basin with a fountain pedestrian bridge which crosses over Zhaojiabang Road, and on the northwest side by a large fountain shooting up to 40 meters into the air. The space around the fountain and underneath the bridge will have outdoor cafes where people can gather and rest.
XUJIAHUI NEW BUSINESS CENTER
The proposed New Business Center will be located to the west of the Xujiahui City Center. One of the main concepts for this plan is to breakdown the scale of the super blocks by overlapping a grid sized to accommodate the footprint of a large tower. Our plan also allows for smaller footprints to create a scale more related to the pedestrian. This provides space for green areas of different sizes to punctuate the plan. Larger gardens surrounded with shops and restaurants can also provide a focus to the office area. We propose multiple building scales and programs (both commercial and apartment hotels) in order to create a 7 day/24 hour district. Finally, we propose the development of a major skyscraper.
SHANGHAI SPORTS CITY
The Shanghai Sports City can become a citywide sports area serving residents throughout Shanghai. Our plan proposes a new major park that includes public and private facilities. The basic concept is to replace the present landscape that is mostly paving with a new green topography. This new topography is created by an undulating landscape of low hills, under which are placed a variety of sports and commercial activities, surrounding the existing main stadiums and gymnasiums. A 70 meter x 650 meter linear strip framing the north-east side of the park lies under a blanket of green and will include several private facilities that will offer an array of sports activities.
XUJIAHUI FILM CITY
The Film City is defined by programs related to a variety of film related activities: A School of Film or Film Production companies and their related businesses including a Cinematheque, a Film Museum, and a Film Center. This building consists of a glass envelope that encloses a group of old existing film studios, the new Museum of Film and a number of other related functions. It’s glass-clad envelope will also provide a large interior public space. It is framed by two towers forming an urban gate along Caoxi Road. These two towers are framed by a wall of lower residential and office buildings. Linked by several bridges across the road, they will contain a new luxury hotel, with conference facilities, a gymnasium, restaurants and cafes.
Prev
Linear Mode
