Once the ancient capital of the Chu kingdom during the Warring States period, Shouxian is located west of Shanghai in Anhui province. Famous for its preservation of the ancient city wall, which served as a defensive feature as well as flood wall to protect the city during the flood season, the city has gone through a number of modern updates in the previous 40 years which have left physical scars throughout the community. Having grown into a density unsustainable for a fortress town, city officials and developers plan to relocate 140,000 residents and reconstruct the neighborhoods to appeal to a tourist population.

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Part of a team of students, the studio set out to explore a less destructive option for the redevelopment of the city in the coming years. Three distinct typologies of development were identified; Main Streets, Neighborhoods, and Perimeter Walls.

Main Street development looked to remove the inhospitable commercial development of the 1990’s and replace it with a new development scheme that aims to return the proper scales and feeling to the traditional town. Of importance is the preservation of the traditional axis, development of safe waking streets, and integration of adjacent communities, ehancing the urge to explore and communicate.

Neighborhood development aims to return the materiality and organic feeling of growth and change to the sub-districts of the city. It is in these hidden materials that the true history of growth and the local residents

can be told.

Perimeter Wall development will attract tourism towards the perimeter of the city, easing city center congestion and allowing for the expansion of key local industries such as fresh produce and famous tofu. Alternative local craft industries will help develop the city as a self sustaining community.

Role: Lead designer: Main Streets Re-development