Li Hao
FIVE proposals stood out in international consultations Saturday on the regeneration and redevelopment of Sungang-Qingshuihe area in northwest Luohu District.
Each of the proposals offered a unique approach to redeveloping the 5.42-square-meter area into an international consumption center and modern service industry center for public transport arrangements, use of land, landscaping design and industrial allocation.
Once the biggest public warehousing area in Shenzhen, the Sungang-Qingshuihe area has seen development strained by a low-efficiency use of old factories and warehouses, backward transport and a low level of industries.
We propose to transform the existing freight train stations into intercity passenger stations, said Wang Fuhai, president of Shenzhen Layout Planning Consultants Co. in his presentation.
Wang also suggested using light rail tramcars for the existing freight line to connect public areas, including Sungang and Qingshuihe, which are separated by Beihuan Boulevard.
However, determination is a key element to the success of the area s redevelopment, which started 15 years ago with no obvious progress, Wang said.
In the proposal submitted by BLAU from Spain, elevated railways were recommended to connect the Metro lines around the Sungang-Qingshuihe area.
We also propose building different theme cities in the area, such as a car city to include trade, training and exposition of automobiles, said a BLAU representative.
Zhou Bing, from the city s urban planning and development research center, said the redevelopment of an old urban area was one of the most difficult problems in the world.
In the West, redevelopment is always needed when an urban area is on the wane, but the Sungang-Qingshuihe area still has vitality, which makes redevelopment more challenging, said Zhou.
One of the judges, Claudio de Magalhaes, a senior lecturer from Bartlett College at University College London, said that, to achieve an international consumption center, a good redevelopment plan should involve making changes for people from all over the world, not just for locals.
It will take years for these ideas to become reality, so we need government persistence to bring all relevant people on board, Magalhaes said.
While Shenzhen had been striving to build a modern manufacturing-oriented service industry in Qianhai, Zhang Bing, deputy head of Luohu District, said: The development Sungang-Qingshuihe area will provide practical experience for Qianhai.
We will combine the five proposals on the shortlist for a final plan, Zhang said.
International consultation started Sept. 30 last year and received 82 applications from around the world.
