Urbanizing Chongming

Since Chongming has a fast connection to Shanghai, the pressure of the expanding metropolis will have its effect on the agricultural island. To prevent the island to be completely filled with monotone, mass urbanism, a strategy is needed.

Ribbon development defines the current situation. Formed by single houses in clusters not bigger than a village. To develop a city in this structure asks for a transition in scale. The current main infrastructure, strengthened by public infrastructure, will be the backbone of the city. The public infrastructure will determine the edge of the city as it is placed on a maximum of 15 minutes’ walk from the stations. A unique situation evolves, wherever you are in the city you are always whitin15 minutes in the landscape!

Several parameters can be used to created diversity in Chongming City. For example transformation of the landscape into a large park will create value and popularity. Here on the edge of the city housing will be much denser. Same can happen by introducing elements like a stadium or super mall. Also the opposite is possible. By holding the development of public transport in certain areas, a low dense neighborhood will unfold. In this way the new highly diverse city will be a manifest against the contemporary Chinese urbanism.