Page 74 - JCAU-5-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Spatial scale plasticity of urban residential areas

From the volume ratio perspective, the average number of
days with cases is 5.07 days for residential quarters with
more than three floors, 6.38 days for those with 1–3 floors,
and 6.33 days for those with only one floor (Figure 6).
3.2.3. Site feature
In this research, a site in Shanghai was selected to explore
and experiment with the implications of the epidemic
for residential planning. The site is located in the Yangpu
District, one of the seven districts in the central city of Puxi,
Shanghai, with an area of 18 hectares. Yangpu District has a
high population density (ranked fifth among all districts in
Shanghai) , an elderly population ratio that is ranked sixth
8
among all districts in Shanghai , and an average volume
9
ratio of settlements. Yangpu District experienced a large Figure 4. Relationship between different types of residential quarters and
impact from the epidemic in Shanghai, with a reported infected cases. Source: Bar chart by the authors
infection rate of 2.78% (data from the period of 3.1 to
5.23) , ranking sixth among the 16 districts in Shanghai. The epidemic poses a challenge to the privacy of
10
The site is located in a lilong settlement undergoing Shanghai’s residential areas. First, most gated residential
demolition and renewal (Figure 7). First, according to the quarters in Shanghai are managed independently by
building a continuous wall around the edge of the site
above conclusions, lilong is the type of settlement most to achieve a complete spatial scope. In the prevention
affected by the epidemic. Second, the height of buildings in and control of the epidemic in some areas of Shanghai,
this area is generally <7 floors. According to the above study, corrugated metal plates to lock off the entrances to the
the affected degree of such residential areas is higher than units of residential buildings seemed to have been used 11,12 ,
that of those with more than 15 floors. In addition, the site posing security risks. While protecting the privacy of
and the surrounding area have a large foreign and elderly residents, it is difficult to conduct meticulous management
population, and there is a severe lack of public activity due to the large spatial scale. Second, for open residential
space and green space for residents. These also exacerbate blocks (including some mixed commercial and residential
the risk of epidemic infection. Thus, this is meaningful for neighborhoods and campuses), the entrances and exits are
exploring planning and designing strategies that integrate directly connected with urban public space, and there is a
epidemic prevention and control objectives with SDG 11.
lack of transition space between urban public space and
4. Results residential private space. The management of the closure
control of settlements affects the openness and mobility of
4.1. Space elements and socioeconomic goals urban space. Because the flows of people and vehicles are
4.1.1. Privacy not separated, it is difficult to determine the scope of the
closed space, and the difficulty of management is increased
Conventionally, Chinese courtyards, tulou dwellings when it is necessary to conduct closure management in
that could resist foreign attacks, and gated communities case of public health emergencies. In such residential
all reflect the importance that Chinese people attach to quarters, it can be seen that there are many cases of using
the privacy of their living environment. In the context clutter to close off roads and entrances, which are too rigid
of epidemic prevention and control, the connotation and tend to aggravate people’s anxieties.
of privacy has the additional meaning of restricting the
flow and cutting off the spread of the virus with the aim We propose an optimized design concept. The new
of preventing the intrusion of outsiders and protecting spatial model needs to break the fully closed form of
privacy. a traditional commercial housing district and should
avoid being completely open, which can follow the basic
8 https://tjj.sh.gov.cn/tjnj/nj21.htm?d1=2021tjnj/C0206. principle of “open over a large range, quarantine on a
htm [Last accessed 2022-8-27] block of flats.” First, the settlement boundary is opened
9 https://tjj.sh.gov.cn/tjnj/nj21.htm?d1=2021tjnj/C0202.
htm [Last accessed 2022-8-27] 11 https://www.sohu.com/a/540817473_660811 [Last
10 https://voice.baidu.com/act/newpneumonia/newp accessed 2022-07-10]
neumonia/?from=osari_aladin_banner [Last accessed 12 http://epaper.bjnews.com.cn/html/2022-09/30/
2022-06-23] content_823381.htm [Last accessed 2022-09-10]

Volume 5 Issue 3 (2023) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1242