Shennan Road and the modernization of Shenzhen architecture

TY - JOUR

T1 - Shennan Road and the modernization of Shenzhen architecture

AU - Sun, Cong

AU - Xue, Charlie Q.L.

PY - 2020/6

Y1 - 2020/6

N2 - Shenzhen exemplifies the rapid development of urban planning and construction in China. Over the last 40 years, many representative urban spaces and buildings have been built on Shennan Road, the city’s main east-west thoroughfare, which has witnessed the formation of a multi-centre structural layout and the miraculous expansion of the city. Many of the iconic buildings were designed by Hong Kong or foreign architects. The continuous development along Shennan road not only symbolises the fruits of the reform and opening up policies of Shenzhen, and even China, but also reflects the moern architectural history in Shenzhen. This study uses historical research methods to review the changes in the urban fabric and the design trends, as seen in representative buildings along Shennan Road in different periods. Combined with the transition path of the city centre, this study analyses what kind of unique role of streets and buildings act as in the development of the urban structure, and identifies what other urban functions and symbolic meanings they have. This research contributes to the history and theory of the modernisation of contemporary Chinese architecture.

AB - Shenzhen exemplifies the rapid development of urban planning and construction in China. Over the last 40 years, many representative urban spaces and buildings have been built on Shennan Road, the city’s main east-west thoroughfare, which has witnessed the formation of a multi-centre structural layout and the miraculous expansion of the city. Many of the iconic buildings were designed by Hong Kong or foreign architects. The continuous development along Shennan road not only symbolises the fruits of the reform and opening up policies of Shenzhen, and even China, but also reflects the moern architectural history in Shenzhen. This study uses historical research methods to review the changes in the urban fabric and the design trends, as seen in representative buildings along Shennan Road in different periods. Combined with the transition path of the city centre, this study analyses what kind of unique role of streets and buildings act as in the development of the urban structure, and identifies what other urban functions and symbolic meanings they have. This research contributes to the history and theory of the modernisation of contemporary Chinese architecture.

KW - Shenzhen architecture

KW - Shennan road

KW - Contemporary Chinese architecture

KW - Foreign design

KW - Rapid urbanization

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85076513809

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85076513809&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.foar.2019.11.002

DO - 10.1016/j.foar.2019.11.002

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 2095-2635

VL - 9

SP - 437

EP - 449

JO - Frontiers of Architectural Research

JF - Frontiers of Architectural Research

IS - 2

ER -