Urban Regeneration Culture Month
On 2 January 2024, a citywide urban renewal forum was held in Shanghai to accelerate the progress of various projects in the coming year. On 7 January, Qin Pang, Benoy Director and Head of Shanghai Studio, a member of the second cohort of “Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Architects in Shanghai” program, joined nine other prominent architects in presenting the “new” city during the Urban Regeneration Culture Month. This collective effort aims to redefine and revitalize urban spaces.
The closed door sub-forum for Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Architects, jointly organised collaboratively by the Architectural Society of Shanghai China, The Paper, and Architectural Practice, marked the conclusion of the Urban Regeneration Culture Month. It explored the theme of “Innovation with Preservation”.
Benoy’s Impact in Shanghai’s Urban Regeneration
Benoy is a key player in Shanghai’s urban regeneration with Qin Pang as a lead designer. Under his guidance, the team spearheaded a series of landmark urban regeneration projects, including the renewal of No. 6 Department Store and Pacific Department Store in Xuhui District, Shanghai, the regeneration of the Bright Food Group‘s Moshida Plaza and office building on West Nanjing Road in Jing‘an District, Shanghai; and the conceptual planning of the Jinling East Road area in Huangpu District, Shanghai.
At the event, Qin Pang also unveiled a “new” programme:
“Urban regeneration serves as a systematically approach to improving urban efficiency, urban space, quality and vibrancy, especially as urban development transitions into a reserve-focused era. This involves extracting functionality from these reserves and optimizing efficiency through intensification. This understanding has extended beyond the construction sector and is gradually becoming a national consensus and policy direction. Therefore, urban renewal is now a comprehensive societal endeavour with a diverse range of participants. These participants will redefine the relationship between private interests and public and societal endeavour interests from their own perspectives, collaborating to build an urban space that elevates the overall well-being index.”
“As architects, when it comes to urban regeneration, it’s essential to go beyond possessing necessary professional knowledge and creativity; we must foster an inclusive, balanced, and cooperative mindset. lt’s crucial to accurately identify and address key issues at each stage, recognizing their shifting significance. By focusing on the major concerns over minor ones, we tackle essential issues from the perspectives of city managers, operators, and users. Embracing change, breaking from routine thinking, learning from mistakes, practicing patience, and staying abreast of new technologies and changing needs are vital. This allows us to keep a finger on the pulse, utilize new technologies to solve emerging challenges and maintain a positive cycle.”
Diverse Panel of “Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Architects”
Qin Pang was joined by ten “Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Architects in Shanghai” at the event. Together, they discussed the current state of urban regeneration and presented their innovative proposals for the upcoming year. The participants included:
The Paper’s Urban Regeneration Culture Month marks China’s first culture month with the theme of urban regeneration.
Distinguished Participants at Urban Regeneration Culture Month
Held from 12 December 2023 to 12 January 2024, it included events such as “Coexist, Share, Collaborate 2023 – The Paper Urban Regeneration Culture Month” (Building W4, Zhangyuan, Shanghai) and the “Revitalise, Regenerate, Coexist – Exhibition on the theme of urban regeneration” (Building W7, Zhangyuan, Shanghai).
Additionally, several sub-forums were conducted, and attracted participation from esteemed figures such as academics, masters, and celebrities including academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Chang Qing, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Jianmin Meng, president of the China Cultural Relics Academy Shan Jixiang, international piano virtuoso Lang Lang, National Master of Engineering Survey and Design Jie Zhang, and Vice President of Tongji University Yongqi Lou.
