P1 presentationyuye

Exploring Potentials of Chinese
New Towns
Analysis & Strategy to Promote Spatial integration and Socio-economic
diversity; the case of Songjiang new town, Shanghai

Yu Ye
4119177
Y.Ye-1@student.tudelft.nl
Yeyu_hust@yahoo.cn

Mentorship:
Spatial Planning and Strategy
Akkelies van Nes, 1st mentor
A.vanNes@tudelft.nl

Urban Design
Meta Berghauser Pont , 2nd mentor
M.Y.BerghauserPont@tudelft.nl

CHAPTER 1: CONTEXT INTRODUCTION

New towns in China since 1990s, Source: Zhou, J. Searching for good urban form from utopian cities to Chinese new towns, 2008

Since Deng Xiaoping reopened China and Open-Policy was implemented in 1978 cities have been
experiencing unprecedented growth. The urbanization rate is tripled from 17.92% in 1978 to 46.59% in the
past twentity years (National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2010).

To handle the urgent demand from work migrants and reduce the problems caused by congestion in mega
cities, decentralization and new towns are widely accepted for Chinese urban planners. Since 1990s, over
one hundred new towns were planned and emerged in China

CONTEXT INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1/4

modernism urban
It seems like
planning and strict zonings did not
create high quality built environment

Social fragmentation and the
lack of urban life become common
characteristics in Chinese new towns

When new towns in China are still trying to search their own identity, most
European new towns built between the fifties and seventies are regards
as dull, monotonous places and even the planning debacle made by ideal
modernist planning (Duivesteijn, 2010 cited in Provoost, 2010, p. 11).
Nowadays, no matter European new towns need regeneration or Chinese new towns under construction, the
main aim of them is transforming to complete cities (Reijndorp, 2006).

The diagram illustrating the social characters differences between new town and complete city. Rijndorp, A.
source: Vernieuwing van de nieuwe stad. INTI, 2009

Here, new towns are defined as human settlements which are built according to a master plan, including
satellite cities and large urban extensions (Provoost, 2010). While complete city is shaped by a variety of
plans, ideologies, economic and political situations, etc. through a longer course of time.

Chapter 1/7

The diagram about social, economic and physcial relationships

This research dwells on the interacted relationships among spatial and
socio-economic dimensions. Just as Hiller (1984, p. 6) pointed out that: “By giving shape and form
to our materialized world, architecture structures the system of space in which we live and move. In that it
does so, it has a direct relation – rather than a merely symbolic one – to social life…”Therefore, understanding
the key spatial compositions which can provide conditions for urban complexity in such a way can promotes
the transformation of new town into a complete, multi-layered and varied city.

And because of the interacted spatial and socio-economic dimensions, the analyses need to integrate the
spatial and socio-economic analysis together, which are uncommon in previous researches. But with the
progress of computer technology, GIS-related analysis is drawing out a new research direction to
integrate spatial and social-economic analyses together.


Chapter 1/8

CHAPTER 2: DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE STUDY,
SONGJIANG NEW TOWN

CITY CENTER OF CHANGZHOU

CITY CENTER OF WUXI

CITY CENTER OF SUZHOU

CITY CENTER OF SHANGHAI

SONGJIANG DISTRICT

CITY CENTER OF JIAXING

Songjiang new town is a large satellite town locating
in the southeast part of Shanghai municipality and on
CITY CENTER OF Hangzhou
the regional development corridor from Shanghai to
Hangzhou

DESCRIPTION OF SONGJIANG NEW TOWN

Chapter 2/10

The time distance from Songjiang new town to
Shanghai is nearly 1 hour by metro and 50 min
by car. Now Metro Line 9 is connected this new
town with city center of Shanghai.


Chapter 2/11

TO HONGQIAO AIRPORT 25km METRO LINE 9
TO CENTER 1h

HIGHWAY A9
TO CENTER 39km
TO PUDONG INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT 68km

HU-NING RAILWAY

SONGJIANG NEW TOWN

SONGJIANG OLD CITY

New Town

Construction area

Industry

Hihgway

Railway

Metro

TO HANGZHOU 112KM

The historically-grown old Songjiang city is located between Highway A9 and Hu-ning railway, while the
Songjiang new town is developed across of Highway A9.


Chapter 2/12

The development of Songjiang new town is divided into two steps.
Infrastructures, key projects and economic sectors were finished in the first development phase (2000-2003),
including the universities and central green belt city hall.

The second phase (2003-2005) aims to accept the population transfer from the ‘central city’ of Shanghai and
focuses on residential projects (Wang, 2004). Overall, in ten years, a new town covering an area of 22.4 km2
has been built.

In order to attract residents from crowded city center of Shanghai, the main function in Songjiang new town is
living. Not only apartments for middle-class people, luxury villa is built in this new town as well. The ‘new-town
concept’ is based on independently functional nodes, in contrast to old dormitory towns. However, because of
the strict zoning, oversimplified function is still a feature in Songjiang new town.


Chapter 2/13

CHAPTER 3: PRELIMINARY COMPARISON RESEARCH
SONGJIANG NEW TOWN v.s.
OLD SONGJIANG CITY

An instant city making (22.4 km2 in 10 years) guided by strict zoning and was fermented in the Chinese
middle class dream: gated community and private cars finally forgot urban vitality.

The image is urban, but the atmosphere is unanimated and suburban. Ironically, the population density in
Songjiang new town is similar to its more successful old Songjiang city.

A comparison between old Songjiang new town and the old city can help us
to set the preliminary research direction in the future deeper study.
COMPARISON : OLD CITY & NEW TOWN

Chapter 3/15

3.1 Applying three quantitative methods for the study of new towns

Space Syntax is a set of theories and techniques for the analysis of spatial configuration. In this method,
urban structure is abstracted and mapped with a network of axes representing the movement in the city.


Chapter 3/16


AMENITIES

80 20

BIFUNCTIONAL
60 40

40 60

MIXED
20 80

MONOFUNCTIONAL

WORKING HOUSING

Ternary diagram: monofunctional, bifunctional, Source: Van den Hoek , The Mixed Use Index (Mixed-use Index)
as Planning Tool for (New) Towns in the 21st Century.

Mixed-use Index is conceived as a quantitative planning tool to measure the functional composition
and the mix of uses, which is initiated by Van den Hoek in 2008.

MXI = (%HOUSING / %WORKING / %AMENITIES). Housing includes various
buildings for living, such as apartments, condominium and town houses etc. Working means a place to work;
office, factory and laboratory for instance. Amenities contain all commercial, retail, societal, universities,
cultural amenities.

Chapter 3/17


The relationships between FSI, GSI,OSP,L and N, b, Tf, source: Berghauser Pont & Haupt, Spacematrix: Space, Density and Urban form

Spacematrix uses the following measures: floor space index (FSI), ground space index (GSI), and
network density (N). These three measures are represented in a three-dimensional diagram, the Spacematrix.

FSI on the y-axis gives an indication of the built intensity in an area and GSI on the x-axis reflects the
coverage, or compactness, of the development. And L represents the average number of floors.

The N on y-axis denotes the network density of the urban layout, and b on the x-axis the profile width of the
street. The tare space (Tf) as a percentage of public space.


Chapter 3/18

3.2 Spatial comparison study between Songjiang new town and its historically
developed old town based on Space Syntax

Spatial accessibility analysis of old Songjiang city with high metrical radius

Spatial accessibility analysis of old Songjiang city with low metrical radius


Chapter 3/19


Commercial amenities of old Songjiang city

the highly integrated area
The most typical feature in historically-evolved Songjiang city is
(shown in dark red and orange) coincides with the town centre.

It is a walkable environment for both locals and visitors to support the overlapping of different place of flows
and the creating of a “thick urban social space”

The high density of connections and relations provide strong centrality and unique
characteristics for old Songjiang city.


Chapter 3/20


Spatial accessibility analysis of Songjiang new town with high metrical radius

In contrast to the old city, Songjiang new town shows totally different characteristics. In high metrical radius
analysis, the most integrated area is main vehicular roads and the new town
centre do not well link with the highest integration streets.


Chapter 3/21


Spatial accessibility analysis of Songjiang new town with low metrical radius

no highly integrated area can be found in new
While in low metrical radius analysis,
town centre. Actually, most integrated areas are in the superblocks and far
from the main street.


Chapter 3/22


Commercial amenities of Songjiang new town

Commercial function tends to no mix in Songjiang new town. The superblock
pattern developing in this failure structure separates the whole town into
fragmented, isolated residential islands.

the planned town centre does not have high integration in urban
Therefore,
structure and becomes a relatively segregated area in spatial accessibility pattern.


Chapter 3/23

3.3 Comparison study between Songjiang new town and its historically developed old
town based on Mixed-used Index

Spatial entiites of old Songjiang city and new town

The data measured in this research is floor space in the units of m2. The specific functional data is collected
and counted through zoning maps from the municipality of Songjiang and filed work. The total amount of floor
space within buildings and different functions on different floors are taken into consideration.

Old Songjiang city and the new town are mapped together and divided into 275 spatial entities on
neighborhood scale based on zoning plan in order to facilitate the collection of data


Chapter 3/24

AMENITIES
96
69

75
4
61
49

72

80 3
81 20
30

28
66
79

80 73

23
22
62 65
32
15
2
1
21

60 5 67
40
33

52
16 27

80
8 19
9 55 63

53

11 10

14

40 60
17
39

67

29
31

36
58 38

91
68
79

20 80
13 25

95 41
94

76
44
43
42 45
56
46 54
51
24 14

40 47 90
60
48
59 57 97 70 100
20 71
37 99 77
88 35
85 74
84 87 98
89 93 92 50
82 83

WORKING HOUSING
Ternary diagram: Functioanl mixture of old Songjiang city


Chapter 3/25

AMENITIES

80 20

60 40
Town centre

40 60

20 80

Residential area

Industrail area

WORKING HOUSING
Ternary diagram: Urban typologies and their MXI positions in old city

In the old centre of Songjiang, balanced mixture can be found. The averaged mix-
balance is MXI=28/33/39. Housing, working and amenities are balanced around each other.


Chapter 3/26

AMENITIES
170
102
192191
147
125
127196
271
130
115 196
143
204
209
203 131
205

169
208

207
117
206
132

80 114 116
118 20
213
120
246
119
223
126
162

105

123

60 148
40

245

273
266

40 109 200
60

111

242
255

168

134
194

20
173 172

112 146
214
158
80
157
236 197
235 156
159
202 149 228
226
141 135 219
167
248
155 198
129
150163227
199
128 101
263104
152 122 164
251 107
188110
138 225165
259 185 106
247
238 182 103
139 272 161 108
270 267218 231
268 136 113
252 229239 257
265
110 142
211 249244 250
260
164 154256
184 234 254 221 274109 137
166 216 243
233 165222 261 175220 124
258
241 176
181
168
224
177187 215 253 212 189153 167
275 179
232 230 217 186264
174180 133 237 269190147178 121
201 140

WORKING HOUSING
Ternary diagram: Functioanl mixture of Songjiang new town

Mono-functional residential units are dominant in new town. In old Songjiang city,
most entities are gathering in the right corner of the triangle with 75 percent of housing.

However, in the new town, most of them are focused on the extreme right block with more than 90 percent of
housing. They are built to follow the zoning restrictions of functionalist separation.


Chapter 3/27

AMENITIES

Universities

80 20

Town centre

60 40

40 60

20 80

Residential area
Industrail area

WORKING HOUSING
Ternary diagram: Urban typologies and their MXI positions in new town

Universities show an excessively mono-functional characteristic. Those campuses
located in the middle of this new town, which ought to become the core to enrich diversity, are unattractive
areas.. Huge block size, low population density and simplified function make this area unsafe during vacations.


Chapter 3/28


Functional sections of Songjiang according to the MXI

More interesting is the analysis of the functional sections. The functional section of old city in West-East
II clearly shows the increase of mixture from periphery towards the city center. It looks like there is a
strong correlation between centrality and functional mixture in Chinese
historically-grown towns as well.
While in the new town, no relationship between centrality and mixture can be found in West-East I. Functional
compositions show a causeless fluctuation. Amenities are dominated in new town centre. It seems
like new town planners in China did not consider this correlation; therefore, flourishing town centre cannot be
created.


Chapter 3/29

city based on Spacematrix

FSI-GSI of Spacematrix with 9 different environmental types in Songjiang old city

From the perspective of block type compositions, we can find that main block types in this city are
mid-rise stripe and block types (61.0%), while low-rise block type is an important composition as well (13.0%).
Furthermore, the city also consists of many of high-rise developments, located in the periphery areas (12.0%).

From the perspective of geometric locations, in general, low-rise block type mainly located in the
historical core and surrounded by middle-rise block type. Then, from center to periphery, the types tend to
change from middle-rise stripe type, low-rise stripe to high-rise types. A clear clue about block types and
geometric locations can be found in this old city.

Chapter 3/30


FSI-GSI diagram with 9 different environmental types in Songjiang new town
However, this analysis shows totally different features in Songjiang new town . The high-
rise point and stripe types play dominant role (52.0%) in it, while low-rise block types (28.0%) are common as
well. But the number of middle-rise blocks makes a great fall down, from 61% decreases to 19.9%.

The geometric locations of various urban forms are different as well. Middle-rise types are mainly close to
old Songjiang city. And low-rise point block type is located in the geometric center of Songjiang new town,
surrounded by high-rise blocks. COMPARISON : OLD CITY & NEW TOWN

Chapter 3/31


Nf(b) diagram showing network density and profile width in Songjiang old city

The analyses in network density and profile width also reveal a different feature between old Songjiang
city and its new counterpart . In the old city, an obvious transforming trend from
historical core to the periphery can be found. There is high network density and profile
width in the historical core, nevertheless, both two indicators decrease from the center to the periphery. It
means that the urban form is transforming from small blocks mixed with narrow streets to
big blocks mixed with wide streets.


Chapter 3/32


Nf(b) diagram showing network density and profile width in Songjiang new town

In contrast with the clear changing trend, no clue about geometric location and network
density can be found in Songjiang new town. The clutters scattered within a certain range, which
generally has lower network density and higher profile width. What is meant
by this is that big blocks and wide streets are the main mainstream in new
town area.

it seems like the historically-evolved old city has its own growth
To sum up,
logic in urban form, while the newly built counterpart did not follow this
hidden logic line. The comparison between new and old city demonstrates that middle-rise or low-rise
block types and small block, dense network urban form may create positive influence on urban quality.


Chapter 3/33

town from social-economic perspectives

Obviously, inhabitants in Songjiang new town are extremely depending on the city center of Shanghai while
residents from Songjiang old city are working locally.

And the personal income fit in with the monotonous compositions of people in Songjiang new town: the
mainstream residents in Songjiang new town are middle class and upper class people (nearly 190,000).
College students also occupy a high portion in it (100,000).

Real estate price in Songjiang new town is unafforable for most bull-collar people.The average age reveals
homogeneous population compositions in Songjiang new town as well.

the population structure in Songjiang new town
Overall, as a newly-birthed town,
is oversimplified and most residents have to suffer a long commute to
city center of Shanghai. While old Songjiang city has more accomplished
population structure.

Chapter 3/34

3.6 Conclusion of comparison study

To sum up, based on the analyses above, several spatial and socio-economic differences
can be found between the new town and old city. Specifically, the old city has a spatial structure
providing centrality, mixed functional distributions, clear development logic in urban form and diverse
population compositions, which are lacking in the new town.

all those results are separated and cannot be integrated together
Nevertheless,
to get a concrete conclusion.

Whether those factors are the whole reasons leading to higher spatial
integration and socio-economic diversity is uncertain.

a quantitative research method
In order to make a deep understanding in this subject,
integrating spatial and social aspects is needed. Therefore, applying GIS
method into further research is the road one must follow.

transformation process from the newly birthed town to a more
In addition,
attractive city is still unknown. Whether it is merely related with time, with spatial structure,
with functional mixture, or with other spatial compositions in regional or local level? In what sense the
socio composition of the people working and living play a role in this transformation? How to accelerate this
transformation process and left space for complexity?

Making a reivew for Dutch new town developments in the past half-century
will be a meaningful research direction.


Chapter 3/35

Spatial and socio-economic problems leading to the lack of urbanity
Songjiang new town as a research example has demonstrated its isolated spatial structure, disordered
urban form and oversimplified socio-economic constructions in preliminary study. Apparently, higher
spatial integration and socio-economic diversity are needed for building an attractive city. In this sense, it
requires a complementary research on regional, urban and local scales to
seek key compositions which can promote this transformation.

Unexplored potential of Songjiang new town: transforming to a complete
city
As it stated above, the transforming process from new town to complete city is the main trend of new town
developments. Therefore, a special look should be given to the evolution potential of Songjiang new town.
Thus, there is a need to study the Dutch new town evolutions in past fifty
years in order to define a transforming model.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Chapter 4/37

CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH QUESTION & DESIGN

5.1 Research questions

How to promote spatial integration and socio-economic
The main research question is:
diversity in Songjiang new town while accelerate its transformation towards
a complete city?

analyses in the Netherlands,
Based on the preliminary research, the further study will begin with
and then convert the conclusions into Chinese context to guide Chinese new town
developments. Newly birthed towns in China do not have enough references in historical development,
nevertheless, through reviewing the development process of Dutch post-war new towns in both spatial and
socio-economic dimensions, a transformation model can be raised.

New towns, no matter in the Netherlands or China, most of them are built up in a short time with a particular
spatial structure and clear social-economic paradigm. They can be seen as a kind of mass producing goods.
Therefore, new towns in China are also applicable in this model in a long course of time.

Then, many strategies in regional and urban level can be identified to promote urban vitality
in Chinese new towns.

In addition, on the local level, several spatial compositions influence urbanity as well. Thus, investigations in
several sections of historically-grown cities can lead to a deeper understanding about sensitive
points in built environment, which can encourage the grow of vitality. Integrating the conclusions with Chinese
context, several design guidelines for new towns in China can be proposed to improve its vitality as
well.

RESEARCH QUESTION & DESIGN

Chapter 5/39

In order to better understand the elements contained in the main research question, four sub-questions are
formulated:

The Netherlands:
1) What is the transforming process of Dutch new towns in spatial and socio-economic
dimensions through time? How to define and measure this transformation model?

2) How to define various spatial compositions promoting urban vitality in local level?

China:

3) What is Songjiang new town’s position in this transformation model and how to accelerate its
transformation by strategy?

4) How to apply spatial compositions to guide Songjiang new town’s development.


Chapter 5/40

5.2 Research design and approach

In order to answer the questions, the research will be divided into four parts:

The Netherlands:

Step 1 Identifying the transforming process of Dutch new towns in spatial and social-economic aspects aims to
set a transformation model to understand the normalization process of new town.

1) Literature review to categorize the standards.
2)Research the changing Dutch post-war new towns to understand the transformation during course of time.
3)roviding a measurable transformation model.

Methods: Literature review; Historical research of transformation in post-war new town; Space
Synatx; GIS-related simulation methods: Mixed-use Index; Spacemate, Comparison study among
Lelystad, Almere and Zoetermeer;

Step 2 Analyzing the potential compositions of urban vitality on local levels to identify the key compositions.

1)Literature review to choose the potential compositions on local level.
2)Surveying urban sections in popular historically grown cities to examine those potential compostions through
the help of space syntax and GIS-related simulation models.
3)Identifying the key elements on local level.

Methods: Literature review of urban centrality and vitality; Space Synatx; GIS-related simulation
methods: Mixed-use Index; Spacemate, Comparing several urban sections of Rotterdam and
Amsterdam;


Chapter 5/41

5.2 Research design and approach

China:

Step 3 Overview of Songjiang new town and old town to find their positions in the transformation model in
order to improve urban vitality by strategy and policy.

1)Researching current Songjiang new town and old town through literature review and GIS-related simulation
methods.
2)Providing the strategy and policy to promote its development.

Methods: Historical review of Songjiang new town and old town; Historical statistics; Space Synatx;
GIS-related simulation methods: Mixed-use Index; Spacemate, Comparison study between
Songjiang new town and old town;

Step 4 Converting conclusions in step 2 to Chinese context in order to identify design guidelines for Songjiang
new town.

1)Converting key compositions into Chinese context
2)Providing the guidelines to encourage urban vitality

Methods: Literature review of comparison research about new towns in Europe and China, interview of
key actors;


Chapter 5/42

5.3 Research structure and timetable


Chapter 5/43

6.1 Scientific relevance
The proposed research takes on qualitative issues such as urban vitality and street life from an angle of
quantitative research. It is mainly related to the department of Urbanism, TU Delft’s studies focusing on the
socio-economic performance of urban form through spatial analysis with a quantitative approach, including the
works of Meta Berghauser Pont, Bardia Mashhoodi, Birgit Hausleitner, Akkelies van Nes, etc.

The investigation will allow for the better understanding of hidden urban orders in new town development. It
is also contribute to the former studies of International New Town Institution (INTI), e.g. Model Town: Using
Urban Simulation Models in New Town Planning, Vernieuwing van de nieuwe stad, New Towns for the 21st
century: Planned versus Unplanned, New Town Roots: Geboren en getogen Zoetermeerders over hun stad.

6.2 Urban character wanted
Nowadays, Songjiang new town is not an attractive place but its ambition to become a complete city is high.
The latest comprehensive plan will make the city as one of three biggest sub centers in Shanghai’s periphery.
The future performance of the city is thus very dependent on how to promote its spatial and economic-social
structure.

RELEVANCE

Chapter 6/45

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