Transit Oasis
Tongji University | Urban Design Group
Studio II - Summer semester 2015-2016
Professor Yu Zhuang
Junyu Cai | Weiwei Kong | Yao Ding | Zhaoxi Zhang (Team leader)
A Multi-functional and Lively Hub for Work and Play
How does transit-oriented development (TOD) benefit urban development? In this design, our site is located near an abandoned railway line from the last centre and along Metro Line 2 in the Jingan district of Shanghai.Meanwhile, newly built metro lines and light rail systems can bring new opportunities to the neighbourhood. Here we look at four strategies to bring people, activities, buildings and public space together: compact development, mixed use, walkable and cycleable networks, and an increasing amount of open, green and recreational public space. We hope to create a multifunctional centre for work and play, a liveable neighbourhood for children and vulnerable people, a healthy environment for all, for long-term sustainability and civilisation in cities.
"Bring the city to life?"
or
"Bring life to the city"
In this design proposal, we developed the idea of promoting a comprehensive development of the existing railway land and explored the future urban scenario of the “Transit Oasis”.
By considering the surrounding streets, the distribution of services and infrastructure, the organisation of traffic, commercial areas and the system of green spaces, we discussed the possibility of realising the “15-minute city” in this core area near the old railway station, with the aim of returning public space to public life, bringing the city and people together and creating a place where people can enjoy the “work-life balance”.
We proposed to encourage the development of the surrounding areas by enhancing their own vitality. By reorganising the layout of multi-functions, creating safe pedestrian spaces and planning attractive cycle routes, we designed multi-level connections to link different types of contexts, including parks, station areas, residential areas, office areas and recreational areas, to form a hub-centred, liveable, convenient and compact 15-minute city.
Green Urban Link
Of all the links, the one that holds more of our blessings for the future is the Green Urban Link, which connects the site to the surrounding urban greenery and re-greens the area along the railway. With the pressing global challenges of climate change, environmental risk and health equity, we hope that this Green Urban Link can form a resilient green belt to cope with the challenges of rainfall, air pollution and noise in Shanghai, and benefit people’s health.
