re-thinking SHANGHAI competition About Lukasz Mazur
The Suzhou river, on which Shanghai is located, offers the city various possibilities. In the past, a river guaranteed not only better security for a town, but also gave the opportunity for development through the trade. Therefore, so many towns and cities were situated next to rivers. Furthermore, the history of Shanghai showed that a river might be the factor that created divisions and conflicts among inhabitants. The industry of Shanghai flourished due to the fact that the municipality became an important international sea port and the Suzhou was made the transit way of goods to the centre of China. Unfortunately, such practises diminished the value and condition of the Suzhou river. All these, took place because entrepreneurs value their interest over the whole. The aim of suggested changes is to make good use of the potential of the river and its natural conditions in order to create new attractive areas where the man will be the most crucial. Though, the industry moved outside the town long time ago, newly developed investments still continue to degrade the river and its costal. What is more, the natural channel of the Suzhou river separates both sides of urbanized areas. The space which should have been popularly attended by inhabitants, will become human-friendly. The river will return to the city thanks to the maximum usage of the water potential and a diversification of waterside areas into more functional territory. The redesign suggests an idea of balanced growth called HYBRIDBRIDGE. It is based on facilitating crossing the river. The main function of HB will be to join both banks of the river and promoting incessant space of activities at the same time. The space that will be full of life with elements of cultures and the art that are so important for each nation. This project will neither interfere with the access to the river nor with its basic function, that is water trade. However, it may became the place enjoyable for people. As a result, the situation created by development of HB may increase the pace of industrial and social growth of the place. The popularity of HB location will soar and influence the development of trade and infrastructure. The presence of man means life! Skyscrapers of ‘mixed-used’ types consist of flats and offices fulfill the structure of HB location. Furthermore, waterside of the Suzhou river should be redesign into recreational spaces that provide people people with possibilities for taking up sport, strolling and many more even not known for us yet. The functioning of HB fulfills the needs of people in every age providing them with relaxing areas, water facilities, land attractions, senior clubs and also with possibilities of contact with such forms of art like theatres or exhibitions. Therefore, HYBRIDBRIDGE will not only join both shores of the Suzhou river but also people – the most crucial subject of the project. The effect will be a creation of space attractive enough to the investors and ordinary user. Therefore, the bridge is not only going to connect two banks, but people in different age and social status as well. Only on the edge of such connections so called ‘ferment’ can create, which is necessary for artistic creativity, or art comprehension. In the waterside management, ‘urban farm’ will be located. ‘Urban farm’ is a urban homestead which is a part of city’s energetic independence system
