liu xiaoliang's scale model conveys the effects of china's rapid urban development

surrounded by modern urban constructions, including skyscrapers and transportation infrastructure, urban villages exist throughout major chinese cities. although these communities are often associated with overcrowding, poverty, and social problems, they are also considered to be lively and vibrant neighborhoods. ‘over recent years when the social and economic development has transformed cities, urban villages coexisting with cities have been seemingly separated from yet somehow integrated with them,’ says liu xiaoliang, who presented a project documenting one of shenzhen’s urban villages as part of the 2017 bi-city biennale of urbanism \ architecture.

urban villages exist throughout major chinese cities
image © designboom (also main image)

‘transfor’ is a scale model that showcases the development and transformation of the city from the perspective of urban villages. ‘socially adaptable, urban villages offer unique living space for ordinary people, for which they survive,’ explains liu xiaoliang. ‘meanwhile, the issues they are faced with, including demolition, transformation, cultural protection, and diversified reproduction deserve more thoughts and attention.’

‘transfor’ is a model that showcases the development and transformation of the city
image © designboom

in order to give a sense of living in an urban village, liu xiaoliang created a model that is both realistic and layered. the project not only deals with issues such as the humanities and society, but also architecture, urban planning, and even graphic design. liu xiaoliang hopes that the project will give visitors different visual perceptions, and more importantly, provoke their thoughts on what is behind the work. ‘transfor’ was presented at the 2017 bi-city biennale of urbanism \ architecture as a documentation of life in the neighborhood. see designboom’s coverage of the biennale here.

the scale replica is both realistic and layered
image © designboom

the project deals with issues such as urban planning and even graphic design
image © designboom

urban villages are often considered to be lively and vibrant neighborhoods
image © designboom

urban villages exist throughout major chinese cities
image © designboom

the high-rise structures demonstrate a high degree of detail
image © designboom

‘transfor’ was presented at the 2017 bi-city biennale of urbanism \ architecture
image © designboom