In only 150 years, Shanghai developed from a harbor city of half a million people in the 19th century to one of the world’s largest urban agglomerations of 23 million inhabitants today. This development was not linear but transformed the city in several waves of population influx, with political and economical impetus of both local and international interests. As early as in the 1970ies, the concept of satellite towns was developed and has since been one focus of the urban planning strategies.
What were the reasons for the rise of Shanghai to the “Paris of the East” in the 1920ies? How was it possible to accommodate millions of new inhabitants during the first half of the 20th century? Why was Shanghai neglected during the first decades of the Peoples Republic – and how can the impressive development of the last 25 years be explained? More and more of the old Shanghai is vanishing – what can be done and what is being done to preserve the old structures? What kind of problems are Shanghai’s satellite towns facing today?
In form of visually supported lecture or talk, Fanny Hoffmann-Loss can give you a comprehensive overview over the historical and urban development of Shanghai. With the example of Lingang New City, Shanghai’s new harbor city planned by gmp Architects, one satellite town development of the past 10 years can be explained in detail. Lingang New City is situated 60 km south of Shanghai and will provide space for 1 million inhabitants and, alongside Chandighar, Brasilia and Canberra, is the only city of this scale to be founded in the past hundred years. 133 sq km of land have been reclaimed from the sea, on which the city is currently being built, with Dishui Lake, a circular manmade lake in its center.
This topic can be offered as a visually supported lecture on the development of Lingang New City and a subsequent guided excursion to Lingang. A half-day tour can include a visit of Dishui Lake, the land reclamation area, a residential quarter and a short visit of the China Maritime Museum, also designed by gmp. A whole-day tour will leave more time at the lake, for example for a boat trip or picnic, and sufficient time to enjoy the exhibition of the Maritime Museum.