Date of Award
Spring 5-30-2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master in Interior Architecture
Department
Interior Architecture
First Advisor
Heinrich Hermann
Second Advisor
Markus Berger
Third Advisor
Julia Bernert
Abstract
The public life that develops between buildings in neighborhoods is undergoing a significant change in the process of growth and modernization, which reflects shifts in residents’ social behaviors and community structure. Traditionally, the presence of people, activities and events define the life of neighborhoods, constituting one of the essential qualities of public space; the mix of outdoor activities is influenced by many conditions, including the architectural framework. When those activities are missing, is it an inevitable result of the reliance on electronic products for entertainment, or unreasonable urban planning under insufficient public policy?
The Longtang, as a unique community form in Shanghai, was once inseparable from thousands of Shanghai residents’ lives. It recorded the cities’ history and culture in a tough time. Life within the Longtang gradually encourages a certain relationship to the public street. However, the original Longtang life is currently missing due to industrialization, reliance automobiles and electronic devices. These have caused abstract life in the Longtang to become dull and monotonous. The Longtang streets are occupied by private cars and bikes, and residents are immersed in the world of television, video and film. As a result, social activities are missing from the streetscape.
The purpose of this thesis is to reactivate the Longtang’s life and improve it to a higher quality by providing various programs and an enticing environment. By analyzing the neighborhood culture, historical value, and residents within the Longtang, it is clear that contact between neighbors is what made these streets special. As a result, the design strategy is to generate a pleasant environment to attract people to stay outside for as much of the day as possible, which dramatically increases the probability of contact at various levels. A system is designed including old and new activities to cover the whole street and take advantage of variable weather conditions, which rearranges the position of programs to establish contact between people that engages sound, smell and sight.
Recommended Citation
Qiu, Ziyang, "Reactivating street life : fostering more communal interaction in Longtang" (2020). Masters Theses. 546.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/546
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