Slowing Down ´Shenzhen Speed´

Abstract

Shenzhen is only 30 years old, and was decided to be the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of China. This decision had great influence on the urbanization of Shenzhen, because it has seen one of the fastest growth rates of cities in the world, explaining the saying developing in ´Shenzhen Speed’. This thesis is a research about what it means for Shenzhen, the ´Factory of the World´, if its economy is changing towards services and more specialized types of manufacturing. This change is causing factories to leave Shenzhen, leaving behind vacant factory buildings and unemployed people. This thesis shows that the vacant industrial areas can be an opportunity for Shenzhen. These areas, and the people living in them, can help with the transformation of Shenzhen from being a factory town to a real city. The planning approach argued for suggests that an investment in a diversity of projects, organized by diverse and inclusive partnerships, can be more effective than the current strategy of the authorities in Shenzhen who invest only in large scale projects. The ‘Shenzhen Speed’ is slowed down to a pace that can take into account local conditions and local needs. This allows the city to transform gradually into a more liveable and resilient city, where people can build up their lives.