SPARK architects revives minhang riverfront in shanghai with vibrant connective ribbon

a vibrant riverfront regeneration

SPARK architects unveils a meandering riverfront regeneration as part of a wider master plan in shanghai‘s minhang district. the project represents ambitious urban regeneration — in just 24 months, it transformed from a derelict and overgrown riverfront faced by low grade industrial warehouses with remnants of paths, industrial, and disused utilities evidence of many years of change and neglect within the district of the chinese city. now, it stands as a vibrant mix of commercial, technology and institutional uses connected by SPARK’s bridging urban park, an open space armature surrounded by upgraded developments.

image © min wei

spark’s design process

with the minhang riverfront regeneration, the architects at SPARK create a recreational promenade that stretches 750 meters (2,460 feet). the team sought to create a sense of place that facilitates better pedestrian connections and promotes a more sustainable living environment. the design concept sees the use of the single cell diatom as a recurring motif. diatoms are single cell algae which take on a variety of beautiful forms and work to naturally clean water. the team at SPARK has abstracted the form of a diatom into two- and three-dimensional objects that animate the river embankment and tell the story of environmental regeneration.

a connective ribbon

the design of SPARK’s new riverfront in manhang includes continuous green ribbons of walking, jogging, and bicycle tracks linked by three pedestrian bridges. the promenade acts as a connective element between the residences and businesses. the landscape was designed by layering four distinct zones that enhance views create and for the first time accessibility to the river. the linear zones take on an abstracted riparian form and house innovative pockets of activity with lawns, cafés, a sports park and event plaza. 

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project info:

project title: minhang riverfront regeneration
architecture: SPARK | @sparkarchitects
location: shanghai, china
project directors: stephen pimbley, lim wenhui, min wei
design team: danny yan, luca maccarinelli, xilin zhu , li menghao, jason ye, yang xi
client: shanghai nanbinjiang investment development co., ltd.
completion: october 2021
photography: shine lab, min wei