Tuesday, December 8, 2009

2009 SZ/HK Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture

Make-The-Most-Of-It Urbanism

Thoughts on Post-Generic City Scenarios in Shenzhen

Moderators:

Jeffrey JOHNSON, Doreen Heng LIU

Participants:

Fabrizio Gallanti, Eric XU, FENG Yuan, Joseph Grima, Dan Wood, David Gianotten, LI Xiangning, JIANG Jun, MENG Yan

When urban forms and conditions are determined by a unidirectional—‘top-down’—process, it will always encounter an opposition that attempts to resist it. This opposition survives through multiple adaptations and in many forms, and even strives to make-the-most-of-it, boldly and openly. Ultimately, we must accept this condition and exploit it as a viable and vital counterpoint urbanism. This is an urban reality in Shenzhen, and perhaps throughout the rest of the Pearl River Delta, that grew out from the bottom and continues to thrive. It is an urbanism that is Southern, open, tolerant and spirited.

The forum takes place at such moment in time, and in such a place of urban reality, that we hope to take advantage of an opportunity to promote alternative urban scenarios for post-generic cities like Shenzhen and elsewhere in the PRD.