Urban acupuncture in China: alternative developing approach for Changsha, Hunan, China

Zhang, Mingfu

Savannah, Ga. : Savannah College of Art and Design

2014-11

Thesis (M.U.D.) -- Urban Design

Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Architecture

Includes bibliographical references (p 81-82.).

As the second largest economic engine in the world, China’s urbanization process is growing rapidly. According to the predictions from McKinsey Global Institute, almost a billion people will live in China’s cities by 2025. To increase the capacity and improve the condition of China’s cities, the government is using very unsustainable and wasteful approaches which are building more satellite towns and “demolishing and rebuilding” old urban context. Especially for the cities in the central China, after the Rise of Central China Plan was announced in the China’s Eleventh Five-Year Plan, they finally got the attention from the central government and gained the economy and infrastructure support. They are trying to catch up on economy and development, building higher and bigger. Many traditional buildings and old alleys are threatened to be demolished, and some of them have already gone. Changsha city is one of the central China cities. It has a shining future due to recent growth in the entertainment industries, increasing investments, developing transportation networks and the Central Government’s policies. Wuyi Central Business District, as the test site, is the oldest part of Changsha City. Recently, this district had a huge block with hundreds of buildings demolished for a skyscraper development which does not properly fit in the context and eliminates street activities and Chinese traditions of the site. To change the unhealthy development pattern in China, a theory “Urban Acupuncture” with a series of urban design strategies are proposed. There are two directions for the “acupuncture” strategy: one is for sites that have already been demolished; the other is for sites that are threatened to be demolished. Taking Wuyi CBD as an prototype, testing the new theory and strategies, introducing more scientific development approaches to the whole nation are the goals for the thesis. Trying to satisfy the need of economic growth as well as maintain the authenticity and traditions of China is the core of the proposal so that development in China’s cities will obtain a healthier environment therefore ensure that China does not lose its richness of Culture.

CHAIR: Madson, Ryan

Olin, Samuel

Gobel, David

English

Urban Design

Text

PDF: 82 p. : ill. (chiefly col.)

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