Joint Design Studio “The Bridgehead of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal: Stimulating Walkability and Cultural Vitality” 2017
Joint Design Studio “The Bridgehead of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal: Stimulating Walkability and Cultural Vitality” promoted by CAUP Tongji University of Shanghai (referent Prof. Yu Zhuang) and UPlab, DICAr, University of Pavia (referent Prof. Roberto De Lotto).
The JDS main goal was the redevelopment of Gong Chenqiao district, a historical part of Hangzhou city. The site includes the area enclosed between the Grand Canal, main road infrastructure and new residential areas. In addition to the historic residential area, it incorporates a commercial center and some traditional museums.
In particular, the students were called to deal with the urban scale in order to analyze and understand the site’s opportunities, disadvantages and constraints and to propose appropriate re-qualification, development and revitalization strategies of the area from a cultural and tourist point of view. In addition, the students were confronted with the building scale as they were also called to design a 3,000 square meter building as a new driving element to attract tourist.
The structuring of the JDS involved the following phases:
- 27/02/2017 – 12/03/2017 (14 days): the work phase took place in Shanghai and on the project site in Hangzhou and included “Urban scale mapping and analyzes; Project Plan Presentation ”(group work);
- 03/2017 – 06/2017: one meeting per week (12 total meetings) at UPLab for the continuation of the project by developing the “Urban interventions and Architectural Design” phase up to the definition of the final tables (individual work);
- 12/06/2017 – 16/06/2017: exhibition in Shanghai of the works produced during the JDS.
Italian participants: Erika Cottarelli, Giulia Cosentino, Laura Fraschini, Gloria Qushku, Xhulia Qushku, Marco Grossato, Andrea Vittorio Sellaro.
Chinese participants: 10 CAUP-Tongji University students
Tutor: arch. Massimo Corsico, Eng. Elisabetta Venco, Dr.ir. Yu Ye