Program Overview

Introduction to the Urban Design and Planning Practice Program

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Design's 2025 International Master of Architecture (M.Arch) Urban Design and Planning Practice is designed to help students understand and master how to use methods and means of urban design to study, analyze and solve the interrelationship between architecture, space, environment and city of urban construction in urban development and planning and design practice.

Course Introduction

Urban design is a technical discipline that creates mechanisms through urban space and form to respond to and solve urban problems and guide urban development. It is also a multi-disciplinary, cross-border discipline that plays an important role in bridging the implementation of planning and architecture. Urban design in the specific practice of urban planning reflects a more significant tool attributes and practical value that can not be ignored.

Curriculum

The curriculum generally includes four aspects:

1. Research of the role and different focuses of urban design in today's planning management system;
2. International city case study and analysis;
3. Project practice case investigation and study of Shanghai at different levels of planning and construction and different regions;
4. Study and reflection, analysis and discussion of current urban design issues.

Instructor

• WANG Lin: Tenured Professor, School of Design, SJTU
  • Director, Center for Urban Studies
  • Deputy Director, Urban Regeneration Branch, China Society of Urban Planning

Theory Building

Constructing a Framework for Urban Design Thinking

In the theoretical part of the course, the basic theories and key strategies of urban design were discussed in depth through classroom lectures and interactive seminars. The course is centered on "What is urban design?" "What are the evaluation criteria of urban design?" "How does urban design work with planning and management?" These three core questions, combined with classic cases at home and abroad, guide students to think about the multiple dimensions of urban design.

Practical Footprints: Walking the Urban Sample of Shanghai

The course attracted more than 20 students from urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture and other disciplines, completing an immersive learning journey from the classroom to the neighborhood through three classroom lectures and interactive seminars, four field lectures and interactive seminars, and one report on the results.

Topic 1: The Bund Origin

• A Dialogue Between History and Modernity —— Urban Design and Planning Practice of Urban Central Areas
• Visiting routes: The Bund area, Shanghai Bund Investment Group, Jazz at Lincoln Shanghai Center, Bund Central Mall, Shanghai Bund Museum of Art, Meilun Building, Hongkou section of the Suzhou Creek

Topic 2: Hengfu Historical Area

• The art of fine street management —— Urban Design and Planning Practice of urban historic areas and streets
• Visiting routes: Tianping Road, Wukang Road, Community Service Center of No. 137 Tianping Road

Topic 3: Shanghai West Bund

• Utilization of Industrial Relics Activates Urban Rust Belt Regeneration ——Urban design and planning Practice of Waterfront Central Activity Zone
• Visiting routes: Nanpu Railway Station, Runway Park, Gate M, AI Tower

Topic 4: University Road, Yangpu District

• Youthfulness Empowers Quality Neighborhoods —— Urban Design and Planning Practice of urban street landscape
• Visiting routes: Daxue Road, KIC Exhibition Center, Jiangwan Stadium

Analysis and Discussion

• LIU Shuting: Urban renewal is not a simple form innovation, but a balanced response to the complex social ecosystem.
• ZHAO Yuxuan: The intermediate links need the long-term and dynamic control of professionals, the systematic and accurate understanding and implementation of the plan, and the effective implementation mechanism to guide and supervise.
• HUANG Runjie: Urban design is not only the shaping of physical space, but also a systematic response to the relationship between history, culture, economy and society.
• Winona: Planning is not just about design-it's about dialogue.
• Yeoh Yi Wen: Across the four sites, a few key themes emerged: Heritage needs gentle activation, not just preservation. Vibrancy must be managed to avoid overtourism. Innovation thrives on community integration.
• PENG Di: Urban planning is a comprehensive discipline that requires thinking and practicing from multiple dimensions.
• ZHAO Wei: Public space is the main place where people engage in activities in the city! Creating reasonable and attractive public spaces can attract more people and enhance the vitality of the city.