Dreaming up cities of a more artistic future
Print Edition
WHAT defines a city? Urban planners and design institutions from China as well as from abroad shared their ideas for answers to this question at the Shanghai Urban Space Art Season 2015 which just wrapped up earlier this month. Under the theme “Urban Renewal,” the three-month event displayed a variety of different trends for the future of urban development.
“The combination of public space and art defines the character of a city and reorganizes the visual structure,” Shi Song, director of development research center of Shanghai Urban Planning and Design Research Institute, said. Shi is one of the key members of a team that organized SUSAS 2015.
Working on Shanghai 2040, an urban plan for the city’s development by that year, Shi said that keeping up with the growing demand for art in public spaces will be a major focus in the future of urban planning.
Shanghai Daily asked him to share his ideas.
Q: A number of examples presented during the recent Shanghai Urban Space Art Season 2015 show various approaches to blend urban design with art. Do you think that art will be the focus and trend of future urban design?
A: Yes. SUSAS 2015 showcased a series of world-class cases that have rarely been seen in public before, aiming to further promote the idea of combining urban public space with art.
The core lies in whether it caters to people’s needs and to the economical and social development of that time. We cannot simply say what a city like Shanghai should become just because what kind of a city London or New York is. What we need is more tolerance to cultivate public spaces, which are already growing in Shanghai, such as the plaza in front of Shanghai Himalayas Museum, and Jing’an Sculpture Park.
There’s a simple way to weigh the artistic value of public space. Do you like to take a picture of it with your cellphone or camera? If the answer is yes, the space is successful because it somehow inspires you. There are smartphone applications overseas that allow users to upload their photos taken in public spaces. Data analysis can then show which spaces are the most attractive.
Q: China’s urban development has a character of its own. What are the challenges when carrying out your urban plan?
A: How to integrate urban space with art is a key point in urban planning. Urban planning itself has also changed in the past years. We used to turn the plans into drawings. From now on, we hope to produce more policies. The biggest challenge is how to achieve our goals by coming up with policies via urban planning and carrying them out. This is a task that does not just require urban planners, but it also requires the support from more government departments, cooperations and social associations, to enhance the artistic values of public spaces.
This idea was first introduced by the government of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1997 in London. At that time, it was not just the urban planning department’s job but also involved a lot social efforts. One example is that the government leases public spaces in creative parks like Shanghai’s M50 to many artists at an affordable rate. In return, the artists volunteer to give art lessons at community schools in surrounding neighborhoods.
Another example is to combine commercial art with education. The British government cooperated with local fashion brands which then send their designers to hold art lessons in some of London’s poor schools every year. This has gone beyond ordinary urban planning, which involves the design of policies and systems, to properly combine art with the city, education and community.
This will be our future goal, but also one of the challenges.
Q: What changes do you foresee in Shanghai, taking the point of view of an urban planner?
A: Shanghai, at the convergence point of East and West, is quite a special city in China. It is what we call “gateway city,” which coveys and showcases China to the world.
Shanghai’s city management is more meticulous compared with other Chinese cities, and people here value contracts. The lifestyle here is deeply rooted in Chinese tradition, but greatly influenced by Western culture, which can be exemplified in urban development. For example, living in Shanghai is relatively convenient. Shanghai also has a rich cultural scene, with a variety of art, exhibitions and performances. How to fulfill the growing demand for art in public spaces and how to provide sufficient support is another key point in our planning.
Q: Talk about the Shanghai 2040 project that you are currently working on.
A: Shanghai 2040 is a project that envisions the city’s future development, space layout and connotations facing the year 2040. We have been working on the project for two years. By the year 2040, Shanghai aims to build itself into a global city, just like London and New York. There are three keywords. One is innovative; secondly, ecological, especially in terms of cutting down the PM2.5 levels; the third is livable, which involves living quality. These visions will be further detailed in the whole city planning.
Q: Urban development today continues to put more focus on art, and its influence on architecture and environment. You have been to many cities outside China. What impressed you most regarding to the combination of urban space and art?
A: Personally, I recommend Prague. Walking in this city, you will find many public spaces that have been formed through history and art. For example, its central plaza has many artistic designs. Exploring the city of Prague is like browsing through a picture album of central Europe’s art.
Its architecture and sculptures compel you to find out the stories behind them. Visitors can get a glimpse of the history and culture of the city, the country and its people through the city’s architecture, sculptures and the artistic layout of its public space.
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