Next to Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is a regeneration area set to undergo a transformation into a new commercial hub featuring apartments, hotels, retail and leisure facilities. We were asked to create a masterplan for this blossoming urban quarter.
Our scheme responds closely to the local landscape. Its undulating layout echoes the contours of a rice valley, with high-walled perimeters to insulate the peaceful space inside from noise and traffic. New streets mirror the alignment of surrounding roads to ensure easy passage into the site and pave the way for any future development.
We’ve designed a network of landscaped gardens and green open spaces towards the centre of the development. Clearly defined cycle and pedestrian routes knit these spaces into the wider scheme, and lead to a stadium, exhibition and gateway building – three key addresses that give the site a central focus.
Our mixed use masterplan will significantly improve the fate of this address. It will no longer be just a place on the way to somewhere else; it’ll be a destination in its own right – a busy hub in a vibrant, tranquil setting.
By considering the placemaking opportunities rather just the proximity to Hongqiao International Airport, we’re able to define Hongqiao as a destination in its own right.
