Open city or fragmented city? the neighbourhood unit as cause and remedy

Abstract

This paper addresses the spatial and social fragmentation of Chinese cities. Starting from the tenth five-year plan (2001-2006), China has considered urbanisation mainly as a way to stimulate economic growth. The creation of liveable cities appears to be of secondary importance. China's standard method of urban expansion is based on the creation of superblocks - large-scale spatial units that are built at the same time and with borders that are generally clearly defined by infrastructure or natural barriers. Building these settlements, which are not unlike urban villages, leads to an increasingly fragmented urban landscape with little cohesion between the various districts. Xiaoqu as urban DNA is partly the cause of this fragmentation. However, this model can also generate solutions to bring these individual pieces of city closer.