On Sunday, 23 April, our group visited Yangpu District, an old industrial district that has embraced a forward-thinking model to improve street quality and community harmony.
Yangpu District Fushun Road Community Centre. Photo: SLCT
In particular, we went to the Yangpu District Fushun Road Community Centre and the Yangpu District Fushun Road Neighbourhood Cultural Centre. Fushan Road is one of Shanghai’s workers’ communities, and according to Jiang, Xiao & Cao (2020), was part of collaborative community regeneration projects between the Siping Road Community and Tongji University to improve community living. The project engaged residents and academics, and designers from the university to transform “the wisdom of ordinary residents” into the physical and cultural environment of the community.
Traditional designs in wool. Yangpu District Fushun Road Community Centre. Photo: SLCT
The Community Centre was a superb example of this collaboration. During our visit, we saw an arts and crafts workshop with parents and young children, and, in another space, elders with younger children engaged in crafts and play.There was a variety of artwork at the centre produced by residents and involving recycled materials, displayed thoughtfully to provide food for thought.
Recycled keyboard art at Yangpu District Fushun Road Community Centre. Photo: SLCT
Upstairs, the library is top-notch, and we noted the date as World Reading Day, but we were too early to witness reading events. I was also very pleased to see 2 performances that really speak to the heart of community.
Reading and study space at Yangpu District Fushun Road Community Centre. Photo: SLCT
At the Neighbourhood Cultural Centre, we were shown the workshop rooms, which cater to older youth from 12 years, to allow them to capture traditional skills. Our guide insisted that tangible skills must be inherited, and this was an essential part of the work of the Cultural Centre.
Youth workshop at the Yangpu District Fushun Road Neighbourhood Cultural Centre. Photo: SLCT
Tangible heritage skills workspace at the Yangpu District Fushun Road Neighbourhood Cultural Centre. Photo: SLCT
At the end of our tour, the rooftop garden was a great space to view the neighbourhood and appreciate the work that went into the community’s regeneration.
Rooftop garden at the Yangpu District Fushun Road Neighbourhood Cultural Centre. Photo: SLCT
A series of beautiful sculptures front the cultural centre. One of them is called “After school.” The plaque reads: The alleys in the residential area also served as playgrounds for children. While kicking shuttlecock or marble playing were gentler games, ball games by boys would often cause damages. A broken window would mean a payment of 5 or 10 cents or even heavy spanking by the fathers. I imagine all the children are grateful for the new community playspaces.
Brilliantly done.
Reference: Jiang, C., Xiao, Y., & Cao, H. (2020). Co-creating for locality and sustainability: design-driven community regeneration strategy in Shanghai’s old residential context. Sustainability, 12(7), 2997.