2020/09/1 Author: HDD
Lately, Shanghai HuaDu Architecture and Urban Design Group (HDD) was awarded the 'Comprehensive Economy and Technology Award' by Shanghai Exploration and Design Trade Association (SEDTA), in their first 'Shanghai Housing Renovation Design Call for Projects'. The winning project is HDD's 'Beautiful Home' renovation design of the Yongling Unit in Jing'an District.
The selection was organized by SEDTA, and limited to renovation projects of multi-story employee residences, lane (Lilong) houses and old high-rise residential buildings in Shanghai. More than 120 works have been submitted, among which 30 winning projects were selected. The purpose of the event is to increase enthusiasm of design companies and personnel, and to encourage design and technological innovation in housing renovation project, so as to improve the city’s overall design quality in this area.
Design Presentation
The Yongling Unit is a community located in Pengpu Town, in a convenient area close to school and market. The area is about 84261 square meters, with a population about 3900. The site has two underground parking lots with 402 parking spaces for motor vehicles. The percentage of the population aged 60 to 90 is 29.28%.In the early stage of the renovation, the team sought to meet the needs of residents and clarify the design focus through field studies, interview surveys, public discussions and so forth.
In response to the existing problems, four major design strategies are conceived: 'traffic + green', 'security + smart', 'environment + age-friendly', and 'building + appealing'. The eventual goal was to 'improve infrastructure and community environment, and shape a healthy and elderly-friendly community'.
Traffic + Green
Situations: Parking areas for motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles are under defined and chaotic. The width of the emergency passage is inadequate. The underground non-motor vehicle parking space is sufficient, but there are not enough signs on the ground to indicate its entrances.
Renovation Highlights: ①Reorganize the traffic in the community, divert pedestrians and vehicles, define parking spaces, increase solar carports and non-motor vehicles parking areas.②Reconceive daily traffic and emergency passages together to improve traffic routes, and ensure the liability and efficiency of emergency passages.
Security + Smart
Situations: The community lacks a security monitoring system. The surveillance cameras are insufficient with a small coverage area, and relevant facilities are outdated and damaged.
Renovation Highlights: Introduce smart security systems into community management to improve residential safety.Set up guard rooms, increase security surveillance devices, launch the smart security system, fire safety system, and gate access control system, improve the lighting system, upgrade anti-climb measures for fences and walls.
Environment + Age-Friendly
Situations: The fitness facilities are unevenly distributed and under maintenance so they are not in good use. People taking over public spaces for hanging clothes has become a phenomenon. Activity spaces and fitness facilities for the elderly are insufficient.
Renovation Highlights: Take residents' needs into the design brief. ①Retain existing sculpture and structures on the entrance plaza while renovating them to provide more seating and shading. ② Transform the fitness plaza, and reactivate the space by providing spaces for residents to chill, chat, socialize and exercise. ③Set up long fitness trails around the community, connecting important nodes in the community. ④Add information bulletin boards, ground signs, and guide signs.
Building + Appealing
Situations: ①The waterproof materials of flat roofs are damaged, and the slope roof tiles are partially damaged. There are many illegal constructions on the terraces. ②The wall paint on the building façade is cracked and peeling. Wall seepage is serious and the water pipes are in poor condition. ③Walls and ceilings of public corridor are peeling. Railings are corroded and handrails are cracked. ④The entrance steps of the buildings are damaged. There is garbage in the open sewer that blocks the sewage.
Refurbishments: ①Repair the roof and take down illegal structures. ②Renovate the façade. ③Comprehensive renovation of public corridors. ④Repair building gates.
The renovation design will serve as a demonstration and reference project for other housing renovation projects in the future, to improve the living environment of more residents.
