Xin Zhuang Sub-Center Urban Design

Shanghai is entering a urban transformation and renewal. The Xinzhuang Master Plan specifies that the site transformed from Shanghai suburban city to the sub-center city which will undertake the comprehensive and public functions, become the service core of the Minhang District,and set up the regional center of administration, culture, commerce etc. The urban metamorphosis is accomplished by five key design areas: Hub Area, Qixin Road Enhancement Area, Southern Gateway Area, Old Street Transformation Area, and Youdong Road Industrial Transformation Area. These areas are characterized as TOD hubs, road reconstruction, public facilities development, residencial renewal, and industrial transformation, which is very typical in evolution process of Shanghai.

The design reshapes city structure and forms a “two cores, one belt and one ring” layout.
Two cores: the Xinzhuang hub in the south with the TOD development will create a administration and commercial core, showing gateway image for the sub-center. The Xinzhuang business zone in the north with Youdong Road Industrial transformation Area will create a technology services and business functions core. A belt: an urban vitality belt along Qixin Road, connecting waterfront space to form a characteristic axis. A ring: the 11km water and green loop with the current water system, forming a corridor connecting the entire sub-center, creating an ecological leisure space.
The design focuses on the renewal design of the five areas in a categorized, layered and customized way to form a practical and feasible urban plan.

The current problems of The Hub Area are separation of urban functions, lack of prominent gateway image, and divided traffic space. Therefore, an extension of the original Qixin Road underpass tunnel is designed and the ground level will be combined with a new central green park in Xinzhuang. As an important linking of the four functional areas of Minhang District, Qixin Road will be upgraded into an urban boulevard with a balance of traffic and life. Through strategies such as enhancing near-line rate, enriching street functions, optimizing street space, and connecting it to north waterfront space to create a vibrant shade and urban walking space.