On September 28, 2019, the Shanghai Urban Space Art Season (SUSAS) opened along the 5.5-kilometer southern section of the Yangpu Waterfront and the former site of the Shanghai Shipyard (including the shipyards and the Wool and Jute Warehouse). Under the theme of "Encounter," this year's art season unfolded across two main sections: "Space Art" and "Planning and Architecture." In this interview, Zhang Ming, Chief Architect of SUSAS and Principal Architect of Original Design Studio, elaborates on the design of the shipyards and the 5.5-kilometer waterfront public space while sharing his broader reflections on the overall design of Shanghai's waterfront.
ADCN (Han Shuang): This year, the theme of the Shanghai Urban Space Art Season is "Encounter." When you first heard this theme, how did you interpret it?
Zhang Ming: As architects, we first set foot on the Yangpu Waterfront four years ago. At that time, we saw factories lining the Huangpu River south of Yangshupu Road; there was simply no space where people could encounter one another. Our work, therefore, was to break down these barriers, open up these once-restricted walls, and allow citizens to truly enjoy the freedom of the waterfront—to "return the river to the people." This was our starting point. We proposed three core goals: first, ushering in a "post-industrial new century"; second, creating a continuous 5.5-kilometer industrial exhibition belt centered on industrial heritage that is livable, ecological, and smart; and third, forming an active belt integrating jogging, cycling, and walking paths. Ultimately, our ideal scenario is to turn the waterfront into a stage for daily life, where people can encounter one another within the space. When the theme for this year's Urban Space Art Season was announced, I felt it was natural and fitting—it aligned perfectly with what we had been striving to achieve for this public space.
