How the planning concept of “Microdistrict” (Xiaoqu）shaped the Chinese contemporary living ideologies
Documentation and Understanding of Space-People Relationship
Z. Wu (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
K. Zhu – Mentor (TU Delft - Teachers of Practice / A)
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Abstract
Have microdistricts changed Chinese people’s living ideologies? The appearance, spatial relationships and community organizations of Chinese Microdistrict have changed dramatically over the decades since the 1950s when the Soviets first introduced this concept. Meanwhile, the rapid urbanization and commercialization of the real estate market made it hard to document and observe. Therefore, limited time and energy were primarily devoted to economic and aesthetics. This essay will use the 1978 Chinese Reformation as the dividing line, comparing the different living ideologies before and after the commercialization of the real estate market. To observe the result of the architectural changes from perspectives of social activities, daily routines and living experiences. The documentation process in this essay is essential, offering an opportunity to compare the same concept’s evolution over decades. This research aims to set a starting point for the acknowledgement and involvement of architects and historians to be aware of the value of microdistricts and how they shape people’s living habits. The potential application can help designers understand the consequences of their decisions to prevent irreversible results.