Xinyi Community
Old Public Housing
Xinyi Community in Shanghai is an old public housing community, which means the community was constructed by the local government or enterprises, and mainly rented and sold to residents or the workers in enterprise. The site is located in a traditional old industrial area, next to four abandoned gas tanks. In this community, nearly 38% of the residents are aged 60 and above.
Function: Apartment Construction
Period: 1985-1994
Typology: Slab Blocks
Status: Completed
Floor Levels： 6
Location: Hongkou, Shanghai, China
Location
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Background Overview
Shanghai, as an international city, is in the process of urban development,but with the acceleration of industrial transformation and upgrading and urbanization, traditional industries have begun to decline. The industrial factories have gradually lost their vitality, leaving abandoned industrial sites. The other functions including commercial or educationcal function are mixed, especially the surrounding residential areas will be
affected.
The current goal of the city is innovation, ecology and humanity and the focus on livable life in the city, in order to meet the needs of new urban development, the industrial heritage and historical areas are in urgent need of renewal, not only the transformation of gas stations and factories, but also the residential area.
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History and Culture
There are many cultural and historical relics in River Bay Town. There were more than 10 temples, nunneries, temples and pavilions. The gardens in the Ming Dynasty included "Li Garden" and "Zhou Garden", and in the Qing Dynasty there were "Jiyuan" and "Shecheng Garden". Tourist attractions include Kuixing Pavilion, Panqu Boat, Sanguan Hall, Jiangwan Park, Jiangwan Railway Station Site, Zhonglie Stone View, Shuangqiao Pavilion, Covered Bridge, etc.
Existing Issues
 Illegal Construction on PatiosThe patios are covered by glass, concrete, anti-theft windows or steel board, in different form, color and material, which deteriorate the community environment. |  Building FacadeThe outdoor unit of the air conditioner is exposed, the wires are messly crisscrossed. Self-built balconies, drying racks, anti-theft windows and canopies make the cluttered facade. The problem of material aging is serious, the appearance is dilapidated, and there are issues such as peeling of the exterior wall finish. |  Communal SpaceThe community environment is lack of consideration for the elderly,such as there is no elevator and no accessible ramps in unit entrances. Cars encroach on communal and pedestrian space. There is no organized greenery system. |
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Additions on the facade——Balcony
The transformation of old buildings should be based on the wishes of residents, so the strategy is to use addition to solve the layout problem of the old community.
For the patio , Our intervention includes applying operable and movable sun room modules with great flexibility and reuse. Various modules are designed to meet different and changing needs of the residents.
For the chaos facade , the toolkit aims at providing decorative air conditioner cover for harmonious façade of the building, also protect exposed outdoor unit from fragments of bricks and tiles falling from aging walls and roofs.