Page 79 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Regeneration of Xinmalu, Ningbo

with it (Wang, 2016). Another local resident, who has Shanghai and Hangzhou, it becomes critical to streamline
lived in the area since the 1970s, expressed nostalgia for a strategic vision for Ningbo within this world-class, highly
the old neighborhood, which has been disintegrated by competitive urban cluster. Studies undertaken by Ningbo
rapid urban development. He not only wished to restore University and the UPAT team, focusing on the strategic
the original riverscape but also expressed the desire to location of the Jiangbei Core Area, where the Xinmalu
invite former residents to return and engage in local Historical Site is located, culminated in a proposal for an
business. “Axis of Knowledge” and the concept of a “Y town.” Linking
these areas and planning for their integrated future can
One meeting participant has been running a team of foster an innovative and creative environment in Ningbo,
20 designers from within one of the restored residences while respecting the spatial typology of the historic district
in the Xinmalu Historical District. His company has a and finding suitable uses for its older structures. Xinmalu
cooperation contract with a local Fashion Institute of represents an opportunity to further refine conservation
Technology to train their graduates, resulting in a regular principles and practices concerning integrity, authenticity,
influx of youngsters who aspire to live and work in lively and decisions on what to protect and how. The vision for
places. He questioned whether the restored house, which Xinmalu emerged from interaction with local stakeholders,
currently serves as a platform for designers, provides community members, and present occupants, whose
sufficient opportunities for expansion if needed. He also memories provided personal narratives. Locals spoke of
raised concerns about whether the area meets the needs of the terrain intertwined with water channels, ranging in
small-scale creative industries and offers the right industrial size from the Grand Canal a few kilometers away to the
environment for them to flourish. To attract design start- smaller streams flowing through Xinmalu, where they
ups like his own, he suggested that other companies in remember riding with their grandparents. The absence of
fields such as finance, consulting, and services should these canals in the proposed planning for Xinmalu is seen
be encouraged to settle in the area. Despite the area’s as a missed opportunity, especially given the proximity to
convenient transportation hub, accessibility, and appealing the Grand Canal. A reintroduction of the notion of water
work environment, public facilities such as retail, dining, through features such as visual connections, signage, and
and other services were lacking and did not cater to young other interpretive methods—intangibly linking the site
people’s lifestyle. To fill in this gap, the representative of the to the river—may provide a much-needed boost to the
local developer of the Lujing Xintiandi Project elaborated district’s imageability and livability, as expressed by the
on how their project aims to address the aspirations of the stakeholders.
millennial generation.
As a result of the interaction with the local community, 6. Strategies and planning goals
a number of outcomes emerged. These included the Informed by stakeholder needs, case study analyses, and
significance of reintroducing water to the site, using urban a holistic understanding of the site’s physical and cultural
regeneration of the project as a catalyst to bring former context, a set of strategic and planning goals have been
residents back to their original places within the site, articulated:
and building upon the presence of startups and creative (i) Urban restoration and renewal: The goal is to restore
industries. Such initiatives must be encouraged, and the urban functions and refurbish urban ecology within
necessary amenities suggested by young business owners small-scale urban blocks to improve living conditions
should be provided to support this significant category of and public services, maintain infrastructure, and ensure
development. These essential activities and amenities must that public spaces are used properly and efficiently.
be addressed in the new vision created for the area. (ii) Historical site protection: The aim is to serve as an
example of historical site preservation in Ningbo by
5.3. Toward a people-centered approach to cultural balancing traditional culture with urban renewal.
heritage management A key aspect is restoring cultural functions to enhance
Ningbo is a city with a long and rich history of commerce, the provision and status of community facilities and
innovation, knowledge, and interaction with foreign meet local needs.
cultures. Yet, these crucial components of the city’s spirit The NBPI has laid out four key principles for
seem to have faded over time. Revitalizing these key development in their detailed Xinmalu Historic District
qualities can serve as a driving force for Ningbo’s future plan:
economic development while reinforcing the city’s rich (i) Historic pattern protection: This principle involves
socio-cultural heritage (Pan, 2019). When comparing height control, with an emphasis on maintaining
Ningbo to other cities in the Yangzi River Delta, such as appropriate street height–width ratios and preserving

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2623