china: behind the image (short shanghai version) english

-3-

Experimental approach to urban analysis of emerging urban conditions in China

-4-

C O L O P H O N

Anneke Jalink

Bart van Lakwijk

Dirk Verhagen

Joost van Nes

Laura de Bonth

Milan Bergh

Sander Potjer

Marc Koehler

Marc Schoonderbeek

Marc Koehler

Laura de Bonth

Dirk Verhagen

TEACHERS

WORKSHOP COMMISSION

COMPOSED BY PARTICIPANTS WORKSHOP CHINESE STUDENTS

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 IMAGEExperimental approach to urban analysis of emerging urban conditions in China

Anja Markovic

Anne Meiborg

Cecile Giezen

Danique Zimmerman

Eva Dubbelboer

Henk ten Kate

Hui-jun Chang

Jimmy Verhoeven

Joost van Ettekoven

Koen Kegel

Philip Allin

Sanne de Groot

Sarah van Apeldoorn

Simon Droog

Sven van Oosten

Tobias Beekman

Tom Kuipers

Blanche

Lizzy

Autumn

Xujiaping

Tom

Irene

Allen

-5-

I N T R O D U C T I O N

1 . S C O P E

2 . T H E M AT I C E X P LO R AT I O N

3 . A P P R O A C H T O U R B A N E X P LO R AT I O N

4 . U R B A N S C A N

5 . P H O T O E S S AY

6 . U R B A N D N A

7 . C A S E S T U D I E S , t w o e x a m p l e s e x p l a i n e d

B I O G R A P H Y A N D C O N TA C T

C O N T E N T

7

8

1 0

1 2

1 4

1 8

2 0

2 2

24

7 . 1 B e h i n d t h e i m a g e

7 . 2 V e r t i c a l c i t y

2 2

2 3

3 . 1 B e i j i n g

3 . 2 S h a n g h a i

1 2

1 3

2 . 1 n e t w o r k s

2 . 2 p u b l i c d o m a i n

2 . 3 i n f o r m a l c i t y

2 . 4 i c o n o g r a p h y

1 0

1 0

1 1

1 1

1 . 1 d a t a a n a l y s i s

1 . 2 i m a g e o f t h e c i t y

1 . 3 s p a t i a l a n a l y s i s

8

8

9

-7-

Experimental approach to urban analysis of emerging urban conditions in ChinaBEHIND THE IMAGE

I N T R O D U C T I O N

In the summer of 2006, 24 Dutch and 4 Chinese students

participated in a workshop on urban exploration in Chinese

cities, initiated by Stylos, the study association of the Faculty

of Architecture of the Technical University of Delft. Architect

Marc Koehler and Marc Schoonderbeek, both teachers

connected to the Technical University of Delft, faculty of

architecture, department Context & Modernity guided the

workshop in cooperation with students Laura de Bonth, Dirk

Verhagen and Milan Bergh.

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’.

The workshop method encompassed the seven steps shown

in this exhibition. The method was !rst tested on an analysis

of a part of Beijing (7 days), and then it was re!ned and

applied to a part of Shanghai (7 days).

1. Scope (4 days): The students initially explored

general aspects of Chinese cities by comparing them with

each other and with other cities in the world.

2. Thematic exploration (3 days): From the discussions

that followed the Scope-analysis, students de!ned 4 relevant

thematic themes: Networks, Public domain, Informal city and

Iconography.

3. Approach to urban exploration (1 day): by

combining two contrasting ways of exploring the city (the

tourist tour and the so called ‘derive’), both the cliché image

and a more ‘unknown’ image of the city were considered,

integrating aspects of randomness and surprise in the

urban analysis. In the !rst part of the workshop on site, the

students visited the tourist highlights, architectural icons

and remarkable public spaces of the city in order to grasp its

‘cliché image’.

4. Urban scan (1 day): On the second day, the

limited image of the tourist tour changed to a di"erent tour

that concentrated on the exploration of speci!c local and

surprising aspects of the environment. The Dérive, which

was used by the international ‘Situationists’ from the 1960s,

formed the foundation of this method. In this reasonably

random journey, each student documented a self chosen

image theme with a camera. Combined, the images form an

‘urban scanner’ creating a ‘hit list’ of particular phenomena and

revealing spots in which the four chosen themes interrelate.

5. Photo essays (1 day): the urban scanner diagram

resulted in several photo-series which reveal interesting

reoccurring phenomena or patterns in public space.

6. Urban DNA (1 day): the urban scanner diagram

was translated in an elementary graphical manner aimed

at making readable relations between aspects of the four

themes. Relations and contexts were discovered between

use, appearance and structure of this speci!c part of the city.

This way allowed for a more complex view of the operation of

this area to be created.

7. Case studies (3 days): The urban DNA diagram

resulted in speci!c questions and observations related to

certain spaces along the route which were then further

analysed in depth by small teams of students. An example

will be found at the end of this presentation.

Twice, the students were given feedback by Chinese and

foreign architects and town-planners about the phenomena

they came across during the analysis. The input of this

external expertise was essential to the improvement of the

process and re!nement of the observations.

With this exhibition, we aim at presenting the results of the

workshop to all the people who joined and collaborated in

the workshop in order to exchange and re#ect on ideas and

experiences. We hope it inspires professionals working in China

to continue developing more context-sensitive approaches

to analysis and design. We also hope to encourage Chinese

students to come and study at the faculty of architecture of

TUDelft.

Marc Koehler, Dirk Verhagen, Laura de Bonth

-8-

INTERNET USERSAIRPORTSGDP PER CAPITAPOPULATIONAREA

2.1.1 China compared with other nations

2.2.1 Google search

Calcutta

Parijs

Moscow

1419 km 518,4 km 549 km 2771 km 2263 km 2721 km 1036 km 11519 km2 2222222

RANDSTAD

4 651

6,6 MPO

PU

LA

TIO

NM

ETR

OP

OLITA

N

DEN

SITY

(p

op

/km

2)

GD

P P

ER

CA

PITA

AR

EA

33 097

4 042

13,3 M

9 239

4 173

13,9 M

53 489

3 542

10,6 M

62 200

1 760

21,7 M

46 510

14 479

13,1 M

4 303

16 398

13,5 M

6 510

13 456

13,9 M

1 068

BEIJING SHANGHAI BUENOS AIRES LONDON PARIS CALCUTTA NEW YORK

2.1.2 Position Beijing and Shanghai among other metropolitain cities

2 . S C O P E

2 . 1 d a t a a n a l y s i s

2 . 2 i m a g e o f t h e c i t y

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.

Bron: www.ciaworldbook.com, 2004 Bron: Metropolitain World Atlas, Arjan van susteren, 010 Rotterdam, 2005

-9-

1500 1000 500 100 0

Neighbor countries Provinces of China

Road network Rail network

Rainfall Geography

Major cities Borders

2 . 3 s p a t i a l a n a l y s i s

2.3.1 Spatial, geographical analysis China

2.3.2 Beijing urban layers

2.3.3 Traditional Beijing building structure, Hutongs

2.3.4 Shanghai urban layers

2.3.5 Traditional Shanghai building structure, Lilongs

-10-

2 . T H E M A T I C E X P L O R A T I O NThe 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:

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. In-tegral grubbing and tra$c 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 in!ltrate into the city and leave traces of globalization, speed and prosperity. The scale and speed in which the Chinese urban net-works develop is unknown to Western European cities. Beijing and Shanghai

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 signi!cance, 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 de!nition is used. ‘Public spaces are places where interaction between di"erent 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

both accommodate di"erent 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 di"erent ways. Beijing is building 8 lane ring roads around the expanding city, while Shanghai is moving #ows 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 net-works do and mean for speci!c local contexts?; do they cut up or link areas? are there speci!c 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?

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 di"erences 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 . 1 N ET W O R KS

2 . 2 P U B L I C S PA C E

-11-

The opening up of China by Deng Xiaoping caused a #ow 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.

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

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 !gurative 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 in#uences, 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 !rms 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 %&'() (image) and *+,-%&) (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 di"erent 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 in#uence the aesthetic experience, orientation and image (as in branding) and as in ‘collective memory’ of the existing city. What is their impact on di"erent 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 re#ect on di"erent users of the public space?(1) Ren, Xuefei. 2005. “World Cities and Global Architectural Firms: A Network Approach.”

(2) www.wikipedia.com

2 . 3 I N F O R M A L C I T Y

2 . 4 I C O N O G R A P H Y

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?

-12-

3 . D É R I V E , e x p e r i m e n t a l a p p r o a c h t o u r b a n e x p l o r a t i o n

START

END

Huangpu rivierBUND

1st RING

2nd RING

3rd RING

FORBIDDEN CITY

START

END

TIAN’ANMAN SQUARE

TOU

RIST

EXP

ERIE

NCE

DÉR

IVE

BEIJI

NG

4

,4 K

M

The #ow of information in our current society is playing a bigger role in our perception of the world and its large cities. The re#ection 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 strik-

ing public areas of the city. In order to experience the city in a di"erent 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 !rst right, !rst left, !rst left, !rst right was followed, to come back on the right track again.

3.1 Highlights and dérive, Beijing

-13-

START

END

Huangpu rivierBUND

1st RING

2nd RING

3rd RING

FORBIDDEN CITY

START

END

TIAN’ANMAN SQUARE

TOU

RIST

EXP

ERIE

NCE

DÉR

IVE

SHAN

GH

AI

1,6

KM

This method of crossing the city is based on the Situationist’s Dérive (1957-1972) The researched the psychogeographical e"ects in the city; the precise laws and speci!c e"ects 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 !nd there. (Theory of the Dérive, Guy Debord 1958)

3.2 Highlights and dérive, Shanghai

-14-

Transitions_N E T W O R K S

P U B L I C S P A C E

I N F O R M A L C I T Y

Transfer zone_

Framed movement_

Junctions_

Streetvendors_

Baggers_

Telephone numbers_

Actions and use_

Green spaces_

Intensity of people_

Entrances_

Billboards day time_

Billboards night time_

Transparancy_

Materials_

Western ornaments_

Chinese ornaments_

Transitions_N E T W O R K S

I C O N O G R A P H Y



Transfer zone_

Framed movement_

Junctions_

Streetvendors_

Baggers_

Telephone numbers_

Actions and use_

Green spaces_


Entrances_

Billboards day time_

Billboards night time_

Transparancy_

Materials_

Western ornaments_

Activity

M

ov

em

e n t s

P

lace

I m

ag

e

NETWORKS

INFORMAL CITY

PUBLIC SPACE

ICONIC ARCHITECTURE

MovementsTransitionsTransferPresentation

Creative cityContrastDomesti!cation

PlayingSittingMovingStandingGreen

BillboardsTransparencyOrnamentsMaterials

LIVELYNESS

ACCESIBILITY

VISIBILITY

4 . U R B A N S C A N P h o t o r e g i s t r a t i o n o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e d é r i v e

-15-

4 . U R B A N S C A N P h o t o r e g i s t r a t i o n o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e d é r i v e

-16-

4 . U R B A N S C A N d é r i v e

S T A R T

-18-

5 . P H O T O E S S A Y ’ S

The urban scan resulted in several photo-series which reveal interesting reoccurring phenomena or patterns in public space.

‘FRAMED MOVEMENT ’ Bei j ing, Shanghai , 2006 By : Tobias Beek man

‘COMMERCIAL EXPRESSION DAY TIME’ Bei j ing, 2006 By : Eva Dubbelboer, J immy Verhoeven, en Dirk Verhagen

‘COMMERCIAL EXPRESSION NIGHTTIME’ Bei j ing, 2006 By : Eva Dubbelboer, J immy Verhoeven, en Dirk Verhagen

‘ENTRANCES’ Bei j ing, Shanghai 2006 By : M i lan Bergh

‘PEOPLE SLEEPING’ Bei j ing, 2006 By : Anneke Ja l ink

‘ TRANSITIONS’ Bei j ing, Shanghai , 2006 By : Laura de Bonth

‘PEOPLE IN GREEN’ Bei j ing, Shanghai , 2006 By : Danique Zimmerman








-19-















-20-

Functions_N E T W O R K S




Mobility_

Actions and use_Green spaces_


Ornaments_

Materials_

Streetvendors_Telephone numbers_

Billboards day time_Billboards night time_

7 . U R B A N D N A R e - p r e s e n t i n g a n d r e l a t i n g r i t h m e s a n d p a t t e r n s i n p u b l i c s p a c e

HUANGPU RIVER

YAN’ A

N ROAD

THE BUND

YAN

’ AN

RO

AD

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION

COMMERCIALRESIDENTIALRECREATION

PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

TOURISTPASSER-BYRESIDENT

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

TOURIST

PASSER-BY

RESIDENT

BILLBOARD AT NIGHT

BILLBOARDS DAYTIME

ROUTE

AREA OF CASE STUDY: Behind the image

The skyline of Pudong in relation to the

diversity of !ows and activities that are

taken place in the public domain of the

Bund, di"erent times of the day.

AREA OF CASE STUDY: PUBLIC SPACE

AREA OF CASE STUDY: VERTICAL CITY

The elevated highway creates a second

layer of experience


The urban DNA is a simpli#ed re-presentation of phenomena, rhythms and patterns discovered during the dérive. In this way relation

between di"erent series can be found. Interesting and notable relations, de#ned the position and topic for more in depth case studies.

AREA OF CASE STUDY: INFORMAL CITY

Domesti#cation of public space. Intensity

and !ows of people high, streetvendors,

low speed movements but hidden for

tourism. No western ornament.

6 . U R B A N D N A R e - p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e l a t i n g r h y t h m s a n d p a t t e r n s i n p u b l i c s p a c e

The urban DNA is a

simpli!ed re-presentation

of phenomena, rhythms

and patterns discovered

during the dérive. In this

way relations between

di"erent series can be

found. Interesting and

notable relations, de!ned

the position and topic for

more in depth case studies.

N E T W O R K S




-21-

Functions_N E T W O R K S




Mobility_

Actions and use_Green spaces_


Ornaments_

Materials_

Streetvendors_Telephone numbers_

Billboards day time_Billboards night time_

7 . U R B A N D N A R e - p r e s e n t i n g a n d r e l a t i n g r i t h m e s a n d p a t t e r n s i n p u b l i c s p a c e

TEM

PLE

OF

CH

ENG

HU

AN

G

GU

CH

ENG

PA

RK

YU

YU

AN

PA

RK

REN

MIN

RO

AD

REN

MIN

RO

AD

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

TOURISTPASSER-BYRESIDENT

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

BIKE

CAR

LAUNDRY

WESTERN

ORNAMENTS

CHINESE

SOCIAL COHESION


PLASTIC

WOOD

METAL

GLASS

STONE

BUS

TOURIST

PASSER-BY

RESIDENT

BILLBOARD AT NIGHT

BILLBOARDS DAYTIME

ROUTE

AREA OF CASE STUDY: Behind the image

The skyline of Pudong in relation to the

diversity of !ows and activities that are

taken place in the public domain of the

Bund, di"erent times of the day.


AREA OF CASE STUDY: VERTICAL CITY

The elevated highway creates a second

layer of experience


The urban DNA is a simpli#ed re-presentation of phenomena, rhythms and patterns discovered during the dérive. In this way relation

between di"erent series can be found. Interesting and notable relations, de#ned the position and topic for more in depth case studies.

AREA OF CASE STUDY: INFORMAL CITY

Domesti#cation of public space. Intensity

and !ows of people high, streetvendors,

low speed movements but hidden for

tourism. No western ornament.

6 . U R B A N D N A R e - p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e l a t i n g r h y t h m s a n d p a t t e r n s i n p u b l i c s p a c e

-22-

7 . C A S E S T U D I E S 2 e x a m p l e s e x p l a i n e d

7 . 1 B E H I N D T H E I M A G E

2

3

4

4

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

carefully in such a way that they form an

instant skyline, visible from the heart of

the city (the Bund). This is a remarkable

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

cross the river, out of the center. Shanghai

has the fantastic ambiguous quality that

one can experience its skyline from its

urban heart.

When one walks further down the river,

however, the image of the skyline collapses.

Walking along the Huangpu river reveals

a facade of skyscrapers only visible from

a speci!c zone at the Bund. The famous

skyline image that is recognized as the

iconic Shanghai image – seen in most post-

cards from the city- only appears on this

speci!c 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 !lm set on the scale of the

city.

In the future, the development of more

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.

1

1

2

34

7.1.1 Panorama positions 1,2,3 and 4

7.1.2 Panorama view taken from positions 1,2,3 and 4

-23-

7 . 2 V E R T I C A L C I T Y

HYBRID PROGRAM

BILLBOARDS

ROOFTOPS

BANKSAPPARTMENTS

HOTEL

SHOPSMARKETS

PUBLIC SPACES

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 !lm 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.

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 di"erent speeds, and

participants.

Roads that are in one step connected to the elevated highway tend to be the most pro!table places

for high scale facilities to ground themselves. The connection of the urban fabric to these high scale

and elevated spaces of movement o"ers opportunities for building or neighborhoods to become

visible on a higher level and strengthen the verticality of the city.

7.2.1 Di"erent experience

7.2.2 Movie fragments: view on top and under the highway

7.2.23 Transfer nodes and connected streets

-24-

Biography: Marc Koehler

Marc Koehler (1977) is an architect based in

Amsterdam. His studio is involved in a wide

range of activities and interests crossing the

fields of architecture, urbanism and cultural

analysis. He also works as a part-time staff

member and teacher at the TU Delft, Faculty

of Architecture, section Context & Moderni-

ty. In the ‘behind the image project’ in China,

Marc Koehler participated as a teacher and

project coordinator. Projects and essays by

Marc Koehler have been published in OASE,

de Architect, Items, DAX-magazine, het NRC,

BOUW, Bauwelt, Baby Mgz.,Bouwwereld,

Stedebouw, Stedebouw en Architectuur and

elsewhere.

[email protected]

Biography: Laura de Bonth en Dirk Verhagen

Laura de Bonth and Dirk Verhagen both

graduated at the Technical University of

Delft in 2007 and started their urban de-

sign and research office, ‘urban synergy’. In

cooperation with professionals, academia,

and locals, they strive to combine theoreti-

cal knowledge with practical experience in

the fields of urban design and research. As

mediator between the academic world and

the practical field, new insights are gained

through case studies of practice, which

create a thoroughly understanding of sub-

ject and context. In the ‘behind the image’

workshop they participated as coordinating

students and editors of the exhibitions and

publications.

[email protected]

[email protected]

B I O G R A P H Y A N D C O N T A C T

-26-

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’.

china: behind the image (short shanghai version) english

Documents