Hassell wins Shanghai Chongming Line international design competition
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Hassell is the winner of an international design competition for four pivotal service buildings integral to the Shanghai Chongming Metro Line that aim to transform the concept of traditional infrastructure.
More than just a transit route, the Chongming Metro Line lies at the heart of a strategic initiative aimed at steering Shanghai toward a future of sustainable urban development.
In May 2023, the city of Shanghai launched a special initiative to enhance the quality of urban infrastructure in the northern district of Chongming to improve its liveability. As part of this, the Chongming Line project organised an international competition for the design of three interchange shafts and two metro depots. Hassell was invited to enter the competition due to our extensive experience in urban transportation projects in China and globally.
“Using a regenerative design approach for the Chongming Metro Line concept, the team focused on ecological restoration and reducing the project’s embodied carbon,” says Chong Wang, Managing Principal of our Shanghai studio.
“This design will set a benchmark for future infrastructure development in Shanghai and across China. It’s an opportunity to push the boundaries of infrastructure and better serve the wider community.”
Chongming, located in the northernmost part of Shanghai at the mouth of the Yangtze River, includes Chongming Island, Changxing Island and Hengsha Island. Covering nearly one-fifth of Shanghai’s land area, it supports about one-fourth of the city’s forests, one-third of its basic farmland and two major water sources.
After visiting and analysing the sites, our team identified a number of key issues that our winning design addresses: indistinct site features, singular functions for the planned service buildings, isolation from the surrounding environment and limited impact on future regional development. We developed a strategic guide to address these issues and included ideas to embrace cultural identity, community engagement, regenerative potential and the strategic future for the project. Our architecture and landscape teams collaborated to create a new generation of infrastructure development, setting a standard for the industry.
Infrastructure service buildings can often have a detrimental impact to the environment but our approach focuses on design structures that positively contribute to their surroundings and the local community.
“We don’t just see this as an infrastructure project, these are city-shaping opportunities. High-quality development demands innovative and considered design solutions with regenerative place-making at the heart of the process.”
Zoey Chen, Senior Associate, Hassell
“Our design proposal carefully weaves together the characteristics of the site and needs of future users, transforming traditional infrastructure into buildings and places that can be loved and enjoyed by people for years to come.”