New Trends in Chinese Urbanism

The last two plus decades have generated vast new cityscapes in China as its economy has undergone explosive growth. Consequently, new forms of urbanity emerged as political leaders, planners and developers alike pushed design professionals to meet the demands of rapidly expanding metropolitan areas. A variety of design and development strategies and experiments were undertaken, some more successful than others. Since the 2008 recession and the subsequent change in leadership, new trends in urbanism have taken hold in China. Now is a time to reflect on these evolving patterns and ask: Where is Chinese Urbanism heading in the next decades? This question is especially timely in light of the pressing environmental challenges, changing demographics and technological and societal shifts we are experiencing globally.

Helping us to understand these new trends will be three architects, each very active in Chinese Urbanism and Design:
Yichen Lu is founder and principal of Link-Arc, based in New York. Link-Arc designed the much-acclaimed Chinese Pavilion at the Milan World Expo. Mr. Lu also teaches at Tsinghua University in Beijing. Update: Qinwen Cai will be representing Studio Link Arc on behalf of Yichen Lu.
Yang Dingliang is a teaching fellow and research associate at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. As a Doctor of Design candidate, he is the co-author of a forthcoming book on Shanghai Regeneration.
Chris Mulvey Assoc. AIA is the Managing Principal for Somerville-based Safdie Architects. He spent the past five years in Shanghai leading the firm’s work in the region, most notably the Raffles City Chongqing mixed-use development, adjacent to historic Chaotianmen Plaza.

Please join us in what will prove to be a very lively panel discussion, moderated by Paul Lukez FAIA.

1.5 LUs are available

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