Inspirations from Contrast Reading of Two College Town Communities in Shanghai：Place-Making Based on Environmental Behavior Method

Chen Qian (Tongji University)

Recently, many big cities in China have attached importance to renewal of old city and revitalization in communities. There are some typical cases among those communities. This paper studies two communities near college towns in Shanghai Yangpu District, i.e. Chifeng community near Tongji University and Daxue community near Fudan Univeristy. They are both located near subway station and university, featuring campus culture and diverse people. However, the energy level of the two communities appears opposite, the former one is decreasing while the latter is improving.

Through field research based on environmental behavior method, the authors aim to explore the formats, demographics, history and funding sourcesof these two communities. By comparing this two cases from perspectives of space, economy, policy and culture, the paper attempts to conclude the dominant elements affecting community vitality and furtherly explores the possible strategy for Chifeng community’s revival. The different vitality patterns of the two communities reveal social and cultural influence on place-making in certain period of time in Shanghai. The contrast reading on two cases reflects the relationship between social elements and place-making, which enlightens policy making for urban regeneration.