Urban villages refer to traditional villages that remain in urban areas. It is a unique phenomenon that emerged in urbanization in mainland China. Shenzhen is a large city that emerged in the 1970s. Extremely rapid urban development and a substantial economic shock have brought this unique urban village phenomenon to the city.

Our research confirmed a public space pattern based on the street grid in the urban village, which makes the space in the urban village have extremely high attractiveness and efficiency. The project takes Baizhizhou urban village in Shenzhen as the stage. We hope to use this public space pattern as the design thesis to realize a high attractiveness and multi-functional urban block renewal project.

Our hypothesis is: Some of the current Shenzhen urbanization issues can be discussed through the concept of “street public space pattern” from the urban village. Nowadays, mega cities in China, including Shenzhen, are facing issues such as gentrification, urban space, low attractiveness and functional simplification. Our project aims to achieve an urban planning and architectural design solution that brings the vibrant street life of the past back to the future and the sustainable development of the entire urban fabric.

The early design policy of urban planners was to give priority to demolition, while the current strategy is to regard urban villages as part of the urban fabric and carry out micro-transformation and partial renewal of existing urban villages. However, the Baishizhou urban village is being demolished currently. The concept of our thesis design is to debate the demolition plan.

The design will adopt a combination of discrete and modular design methods, including urban and architectural scales. It should be noted that the purpose of the design is not the organic growth of the existing urban village but the establishment and development of a street-based public space network while emphasizing the space equity and sustainability of the urban fabric. Furthermore, the design will improve the quality of space in the existing urban village. Propose a vision of a possible future city.

Thesis Tutors

Dr Yat Shun Kei

Special Mentions

Mr Tianyi Gao