The Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture announced the results of their 2022 Science and Technology Awards. This award aims to encourage landscape architecture research institutes, universities, enterprises, and organizations from different backgrounds to invest in landscape architecture and improve the level of planning and design, engineering construction and industry science and technology. At the same time, it hopes to enhance the industry’s ability to innovate in science and technology, and accelerate its pursuit of transformative scientific and technological achievements. Faculty from the Department of Landscape Architecture of the School of Design won a Second Prize in the Science and Technology Section and a Third Prize in the Planning and Design Section.
The 5 Plots Regeneration Design of Old Downtown, Kunshan (“Kunxiaowei” Urban Renewal Project) won the Second Prize in the Science and Technology Section. Associate Professor Yu Bingqin, Professor Che Shengquan, Xie Changkun and others completed the "Research on Conjugation of Recreation and Ecological Service Functions in Public Open Spaces in High-Density Urban Communities" and won the Third Prize in the Planning and Design Section.
5 Plots Regeneration Design of Old Downtown, Kunshan
(“Kunxiaowei” Urban Renewal Project)
Design Unit: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Yijing Architectural Landscape Co., Ltd.
Designers: WANG Yun, TANG Xiaomin, ZHANG Le
Project Description:
Faced with problems brought about by rapid urbanization such as the fading of urban cultural memory in residential areas and a prominent contradiction between the supply and demand of public space and more, Kunshan City launched the “Kun Xiaowei” 5 Garden micro-regeneration plan. This project revitalizes urban blocks with “points” and “surfaces” through the “acupuncture-style” renewal of small and micro public spaces.
This project is located in the old city center of Kunshan, and includes 5 parts, Huayi Street (3641㎡), Zhiqu Street Corner (2175㎡), Yunpu (487㎡), Yin Garden (433㎡) and Fuchun Garden (2488㎡) spanning a total area of 9224m². The area where the project is located has been the core area for commerce and trade in Xinyang County since the Song Dynasty. Profound historical and cultural resources still remain there, including streets, alleys, houses of literati and private gardens.
The project won the 2022 IFLA AAPME Honor Award in the Social and Community Health Section, and the First Prize for the 2021 Shanghai Excellent Engineering Survey and Design awards. It was rated as one of the top ten popular landmarks and the “Most Beautiful Pocket Park” in Suzhou. In addition, it was submitted in a briefing to the Ministry of Construction and included in special reports of the General Office of the Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council. It was recommended as a demonstration project by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
Research on High-density Urban Community Public Space Recreation and Ecological Service Function Conjugation
Research Unit: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute (Group) Co., Ltd.
Joint Researchers: YU Bingqin, CHE Shengquan, XIE Changkun, LIANG Anze, WU Jiayuan, SUN Ce
Project Description:
This research utilized multi-modal analysis methods such as big data analysis, virtual experiments, and computer deep learning to reveal spatio-temporal differentiation characteristics in a public space structure model, including levels of recreational attraction, and use intensity of urban communities in Shanghai. This was utilized to construct a high-density urban environment. This is the path of “community + health + ecology” for public space construction that meets the actual needs of residents and improves comprehensive service benefits. At the same time, the conjugation of recreational and ecological service functions in high-density urban communities was realized. This was accomplished through a systematic framework. It included simulation evaluation and environmental adaptability research and development, in addition to an integration and demonstration of urban and rural green space sponge city construction technology and environmental functional plant community construction technology. The results were featured in Chinese academic journals (October-November 2022), in highly cited and downloaded papers. The work also secured an American invention patent authorization and four national invention patent authorizations.
Editor on Duty: Cheng Yan