The “2023 Shanghai International City and Architecture Expo” (hereinafter referred to as the “Expo”), themed “eco-city, green development” was held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from October 30 to November 1, as a supporting theme event of the “World Cities Day”. Among them, Jing’an District showcases the theme of “Dialogue with History, Innovate the Future”, highlighting both the storytelling of historical buildings and a focus on cutting-edge smart technologies, presenting a concentrated display of technological achievements. So, what are the distinctive highlights that Jing’an District showcases at this year’s Expo? Join Jingbao today and go to the site to find out.
“Shanghai’s first EUP shaft smart garage”:
showcasing a new approach to parking management in central urban areas of a megacity
At the Jing’an District booth in Hall 1 of the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, the first EUP shaft smart garage project by China Railway 15th Bureau is being showcased. The booth presented the project’s background, distinctive highlights, as well as innovative explorations and practical measures in parking management in Jing’an District. The on-site staff were actively introducing the project to the visiting audience.
The reporter learned that this project is not only Shanghai’s first vertical excavation (shield tunneling) underground smart garage project but also a demonstration pilot project for parking management in Shanghai and Jing’an District. In response to the parking challenges in a megacity, Jing’an District has been exploring new approaches and innovative methods for parking, actively exploring the feasibility of constructing new types of garages in Shanghai. The “world’s largest diameter” and Shanghai’s first vertical excavation (shield tunneling) underground smart garage project officially started construction on October 28 of last year and has since gained widespread attention from society.
According to the introduction, the project utilizes the underground space of the public greenbelt in the 058d-01 plot of Daning Road Sub-district, Jing’an District, Shanghai. It adopts prefabricated shaft vertical excavation technology to construct two smart underground garages with a total of 304 parking spaces. Each shaft of the project has a diameter of 23.02 m, making it the shaft of the world’s largest diameter. The excavation depth is approximately 50.5 m, with a clearance height of 40.3 m. Surrounding the shaft is a protective structure, and the world’s largest shaft tunneling machine, known as the “Dream Machine” and recognized as a vital tool for central state-owned enterprises, is used for vertical excavation in this project. The above-ground structure consists of the entrance, exit, and management facilities of the smart garage, covering an area of 286 m2. The first underground floor serves as the equipment floor, and below that is the underground parking equipment floor. It adopts a 19-story steel structure design and utilizes the PCS vertical lift mechanical parking system. The incorporation of tray-style parking transfer technology, mobile app reservations, and AGV automatic vehicle storage and retrieval equipment allows it to store and retrieve a vehicle for an average of 90 seconds, making it a modern and smart garage that integrates equipment, operations, monitoring, maintenance, and management.
Luo Zhimin, the head of China Railway 15th Bureau Group’s Shanghai Smart Transportation Technology Co., Ltd., introduced that China Railway 15th Bureau showcased “Shanghai’s first” and “world’s largest diameter” vertical excavation underground garage project implemented in Jing’an District at the Expo. The project started construction on October 28, 2022, and is planned to undergo trial operation around the time of the Chinese New Year next year. “This project provides a brand-new solution to the parking difficulties in the central urban area of a megacity. We hope to promote this new solution in Shanghai and even nationwide through this platform to address the parking challenges that trouble cities”, said Luo Zhimin.
“Century-old Zhang Yuan Renews the Magnificence of an Era” Booth:
showcasing the renovation benchmark of historic areas
At another Jing’an District booth, the “Century-old Zhang Yuan Renews the Magnificence of an Era” booth showcased the “past and present” of Zhang Yuan for the audience. At this booth, the historical and cultural significance of Zhang Yuan (or Zhang Garden), as well as its process of revitalization and development, came into full view. It comprehensively displayed Shanghai’s first urban renewal project through protective expropriation. The journalist noticed that the booth here showcased not only Zhang Yuan’s past as a “Shikumen Museum” and its present as part of the “Renewal and Opening of the Western Area”, but also highlighted the future development of “integrated development of cultural, commercial, and tourism industries”, reflecting the vibrant practice of Jing’an District in building a people-oriented city and creating a model urban area with Chinese modernization.
Zhang Yuan, located in the core protected area of the West Nanjing Road Historic Area Core Preservation Zone in Jing’an District, is one of the most valuable, well-preserved, and architecturally diverse lane-style architectural complexes in Shanghai. On September 30, 2018, Jing’an District initiated the protective expropriation of the Zhang Yuan plot, following the urban renewal philosophy of “retention, rectification, and demolition” and practicing the means featuring “requisition instead of demolition and residents’ removal but buildings’ retention”. On November 23, 2020, the Zhang Yuan project completed the expropriation of all 1,125 residential certificates and 42 unit certificates.
Since the official implementation of the protective expropriation of Zhang Yuan
Zhang Yuan has implemented the strictest “technology + personnel” security measures. The Guidelines for the Protection and Management of Zhang Yuan Historic Area Protective Expropriation Base has been developed and successfully submitted to the Shanghai Standard Implementation System, becoming a benchmark for the expropriation and preservation work in the renovation of old areas and urban renewal projects throughout the city.
Four years of protective restoration
On November 27, 2022, 16 buildings in the western area of Zhang Yuan were the first to undergo a revitalization and unveiling, highlighting the “first store”, “first show”, and “first release” effects and becoming a high-end commercial landmark in the historic blocks.
Future
The distribution of functions in Zhang Yuan will be based on its historical heritage as the “No.1 Garden on the Sea,” with the core framework of “serenity in the east, liveliness in the west, and unlimited immersion”. The under-construction eastern area of Zhang Yuan will feature world-class offices, hotels, and residences, providing the ultimate luxury and economical service experience in Shikumen-style architecture and driving the upgrading of industries in the area. Simultaneously, cultural venues such as a cultural performance center, fashion centers, and art galleries will be set up to form a cultural activity space that caters to the surrounding residents. In the eastern area, while preserving and protecting historical buildings in situ, low-disturbance and low-impact techniques such as in-situ foundation replacement and building relocation will be employed to develop underground spaces. These spaces will serve commercial, parking, rail transit interchange, and necessary supporting buildings. Once completed, the entire block will achieve seamless integration of both above-ground and underground spaces and connection with surrounding high-rise buildings, shopping malls, and neighborhoods. It will become a high-quality urban renewal case that emphasizes historical and cultural significance and offers immersive experiences, enabling residents to deeply appreciate the achievements of Shanghai’s high-quality development, high-quality living, and efficient governance.