HOW CAN THE RE-DESIGN OF A RIVERSIDE SITE RECONCILE AN OLD URBAN FABRIC AND NEW COMMUNITY? THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF URBAN RIVERSIDE SITE IN HONGKOU DISTRICT, CITY OF SHANGHAI

Abstract

For hundreds of years, the riverside area of Shanghai was one of the city's most vibrant places, making it an important part of Shanghai’s history. By following the story of the rivers, the life and culture of Shanghai's riverside neighbourhoods can be traced. While the river has always been important to the inhabitants of central Shanghai, it has become largely inaccessible during the last several decades. First, the booming manufacturing industries of the 20th century resulted in heavily polluted rivers. Second, physical barriers such as walls and roads were built, preventing access to the rivers. Both of these combine to create a landscape in which urban neighbourhoods are separated from the river as well as from each other. This thesis proposes ways in which a redesign of the riverside can strengthen the culture and community of neighbourhoods while also looking towards the present and future needs of residents and visitors.