As a rapidly growing city, Shanghai is exposed to significant challenges with regard to social, economic, environmental, and cultural planning.
The International Workshop on Global Suburbanisms took place at Fudan University in Shanghai, China from May 9-11, 2015. The workshop focused on suburbanization in Shanghai as well as other regions in China, using the themes of land, governance, and infrastructure.
The Shanghai workshop was organized by the Major Collaborative Research Initiative (MCRI) on Global Suburbanisms and The City Institute at York University. It was co-organized by the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London Center for Urban & Regional Studies, the Institute of Population Research, Fudan University Centre for Modern Chinese City Studies, the East China Normal University Institute of Urban and Demographic Studies, and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Click here for a copy of the conference program.
Critical Urban Planning Workshop in Shanghai
A group of 9 Master’s students from York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies traveled to Shanghai to participate in a graduate urban planning course under the directorship of FES Professor Ute Lehrer. In addition to participating in the forum, students visited new towns on the periphery, spoke to planning professionals, and participated in a design charrette with B+H Architects.
The workshop was rich in exposure to a myriad of analyses and landscapes, combining lectures, field trips, and meetings with local academics, planners, and activists, students learned about the successes and challenges facing China’s most populous city. Indeed, this place-based workshop allowed for spontaneous exploration outside of the traditional academic spheres as well, and therefore the reflections shared in this report encompass the more ordinary, experiential side of navigating Shanghai’s metro system, restaurants, streets, and parks in daily life.
Upon returning to York University, students compiled their research and experience into a report entitled Shanghai Urbanism: Reflections from the Outside In. You can read the report here.
