What are cites like in the future? How to renew old urban areas? Whether demolition is the only choice of old communities? Does city evolution have to be at the cost of deleting historical memory? How to connect and combine old urban areas and new urban areas?  Design Background.

Design Background:
The site selected is an old urban area in a city of China’s southeast coast. There are low-rise high-density buildings, most of which are one-storey and have pitched roof structure. Almost no change in both architectural form and architecture texture has been undergone there in decades. There are few facilities except residents’ houses. There is no vigor and vitality as most young people have moved out. The traditional residential structure results in all east-west roads there, which brings inconvenience to north-south communication.

Design Concept:
Old communities like this site of historical significance and no heritage value can be seen everywhere in China. Considering the potential value of the old houses, we try to keep the basic structure of the original old buildings by placing main buildings of the community’s activity center over them and having various functions cleverly organized and connected after considering the site’s conditions. In this way, construct a “green bridge” connecting three east-west roads so that the residents can cross conveniently. Grow grass on the roofs where people are allowed to be in order to expand activity space and strengthen the cohesion of the community center. Besides, use this community’s linear dimension to activate the scattered small courtyards, for instance, transforming them to an outdoor theater or event space.

Green Design
row grass on the roofs to improve the buildings’ thermal performance. Use rainwater harvesting system for vegetation irrigation. Design an adjustable light system to avoid intense direct sunlight. Grow plants on vertical façades to form green walls, which not only   saves energy but also creates good view. Use white cement of Aalborg Portland Group for all cast-in-place concrete.