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​The Story of the Li-long: 2021 SJTU Global Summer School Recap

On the afternoon of July 23, the 2021 SJTU Global Summer School, carrying the theme of “The Story of Li-Long: Conservation and Renovation of Shanghai Regional Culture,” organized by the School of Design successfully concluded at the SU Shanghai Community Art Gallery on Yuyuan Road. A total of 22 overseas students from nine universities including Cornell University, Politecnico di Milano, University of New South Wales, Newcastle University, University of Chile, University of Birmingham, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Harbin Institute of Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University actively participated in the program. They carried out design by micro-renovation of Shanghai’s traditional li-long streets based on the method of urban acupuncture.

The jury of the final report consisted of faculty from the Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning; the Shanghai Jiao Tong School of Design; and representatives of CREATER. They provided multi-perspective, critical, and insightful  feedback to students’ work while also reflecting a diversity of teaching methods and an  integration of teaching resources of into this program. After two hours of presentation and desk critiques, the five groups were awarded with different prizes for their outstanding performance and teamwork.

Mr. HUANG Zhiwei from CREATER, an urban renewal operation service provider, commented that in the past five or six years, Yuyuan Road has undergone tremendous changes, the biggest change not coming from building and architecture in themselves, but instead more from the format, aesthetics, and trendy styles and atmosphere shared between residents and the street. These student projects have added more artistic color to the street as well. It is hoped that everyone’s design can be realized on Yuyuan Road as it is a street “where anything can happen.” Students were also encouraged to visit Shanghai to experience the perfect blending of Shanghai regional culture and modern life on Yuyuan Road. Li Zhongwei and Shi Xiayao, teaching fellows from the School of Design, believed that although there was still a certain distance between the design ideas and reality, the projects were full of creativeness. The renewal and transformation of Yuyuan Road reflects sparks of design generated by the collision between different cultures which deserve encouragement. George Frantz, associate professor of the School of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University, also highly appreciated the efforts of all participating students. In the past year or so, the pandemic has brought severe challenges to field studios and projects. It is truly inspiring to see that five groups of students were able to carry out design projects with substantial content, ideas and insights and that the Li-long Summer School could be completed in two weeks through a combined online and offline format.

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