A Lightweight MegaStructure Integrated into the Community
CAOYANG CENTENNIAL PARK
LOCATION
Putuo District, Shanghai, China
YEAR
2020 - 2021 (Constructed)
PROGRAM
Urban Renovation
CONTRIBUTION
Concept design_version1 to version 2.3, Design Research, Exhibition, Publication, Co-writing
TEAM MEMBER
Yuyang Liu_Founder & Principal, Zehong Liu_Assistant Architect, and Developed Design
members
PHOTOGRAPHY
Liang Junhao,
Zhu Runzi
AUTHORSHIP
During China's urbanization over the past three decades, mass production of both asset-based commercial housing and various types of public buildings to serve the city has generally taken place at a very fast pace. This has led to a real estate bubble and a much-criticized "one-size-fits-all" urbanization strategy. On the one hand, the criticism of Rem Koolhaas -- 'Architecture is too slow!' and the pursuit of Chinese leaders--'fast' reflects that architects are struggling between 'fast' and 'good'. On the other hand, this phenomenon points to the possibility of a new spatial 'infrastructuralization' in the contemporary architectural production system. From this perspective, Cao Yang Park is a "community infrastructure". The project offers new spatial scenarios for residents through modularity and adaptability of design, allowing standardization and differentiation to coexist, and a balance between speed and individuality.
The "alienation" of Chinese society reflects the immaterial poverty of people's daily lives. Urbanization consumes more time, space, and energy to accomplish daily tasks. In fact, the importance of community public space lies in people's recognition of its historical significance and new forms - the emotional relationship between people and a place. The design initially adopted the concept of "drift" similar to Situationism. Therefore, the construction of a composite space that increases people's comprehensive experience and enjoyment of 'playing' became an important goal.
Elements of city and neighborhood, memory and routine, public and private, are fused into a dynamic network of community renewal and development. The design would ultimately be inserted like surgery into this pre-formatted site. In the post epidemic era and the emerging new architectural context, the design is an effort and attempt to regenerate the value of social public space, but also a reflection and exploration of daily life in society at the current stage of urban development.
The "alienation" of Chinese society reflects the immaterial poverty of people's daily lives. Urbanization consumes more time, space, and energy to accomplish daily tasks. In fact, the importance of community public space lies in people's recognition of its historical significance and new forms - the emotional relationship between people and a place. The design initially adopted the concept of "drift" similar to Situationism. Therefore, the construction of a composite space that increases people's comprehensive experience and enjoyment of 'playing' became an important goal.
Elements of city and neighborhood, memory and routine, public and private, are fused into a dynamic network of community renewal and development. The design would ultimately be inserted like surgery into this pre-formatted site. In the post epidemic era and the emerging new architectural context, the design is an effort and attempt to regenerate the value of social public space, but also a reflection and exploration of daily life in society at the current stage of urban development.
BACKGROUND
The project stems from the Putuo District Government's efforts to revitalize the area in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party and the 60th anniversary of the founding of Cao Yang New Village. After several functional changes, the site was finally decided to be an urban park. This design was carried out under the direction of Liu Yuyang. Liu Yuyang recognized that I (Junjie Liang--the author of this portfolio) had a very systematic and comprehensive understanding of the firm's design approach and results and invited me to participate in the design of this project. He commented: 'Because of this key factor and decision, the design was able to move forward quickly and establish a clear design prototype at the conceptual design stage and the potential for subsequent developmen (Published in Architectural Journal, 2022-10).'