project04:P2
Jihong Duan
Abstract
Globalization and urbanization produce large amount of space, which cannot be defined as relational, or historical, or concerned with identity. This kind of non-places creates neither singular identity nor relations; only solitude and similitude, especially for those metropolises, like Shanghai. Shanghai is described as the place where eastern culture meets the western one, due to its colonial history. In the 1990s, rapid re-development and economic reforms began in Shanghai. Shanghai is one of the fastest developing cities in the world and has been described as the “showpiece” of the booming economy of mainland China. On the other hand, the structure of the society also changed subsequently. The relationship between the urban space and people need to be re-examined.
The research of the graduation project starts from research’s personal life experience. Shanghai People’s square is in the center area of Shanghai, it is one of the top tourist destinations in the city and metro station of People’s square is one of the busiest interchange station. Such space used to be attractive to people due to its special historical and cultural background. But now its identity is challenged, becoming a pass-by place more than a destination. My graduation project is determined to dissolve the social and cultural alienation and to repair the relationship between people and space.
