Abstract:

Connected Harmony envisions a renewed future for the Zhifu District that reconnects coastal heritage, urban fabric, and community identity. Rooted in Yantai’s maritime history, the proposal responds to challenges of coastal vulnerability, rapid urbanization, and fragmented public space through an integrated and forward looking approach. Guided by five fundamental rights including Growth, Sustainability, Community, Accessibility, and Experience, the design prioritizes long term resilience and social well being. Growth is understood not as unchecked expansion but as thoughtful development that supports economic vitality, cultural continuity, and opportunities for personal and collective growth through education, interaction, and public life. A responsive coastline restores native ecologies and strengthens climate resilience, while reorganized mobility networks and pedestrian first corridors reconnect neighborhoods long divided by infrastructure. Public spaces such as an enhanced Binhai Square and cultural anchors serve as catalysts for identity, engagement, and daily life. Together, these strategies cultivate a district where culture, ecology, and urban life operate in harmony, shaping a resilient coastal environment grounded in opportunity and connection.