West Guizhou Lilong Neighbourhood

The micro-regeneration projects in the traditional Lilongs (Lilong is Hutong in Shanghainese dialect) of Shanghai, the Guizhou West Lilong community in the Huangpu district, has a deep history of nearly one hundred years. Over the course of nearly a century, the community and environment have experienced significant material decay, with many households facing limited living space, deteriorating facilities, and poorer conditions. 40% of the Lilong households lacked private toilets, and 60% relied on communal kitchens. Moreover, the complex social changes within the community have led to fragmented living spaces and diminished maintenance and renovation capabilities. The ageing population, coupled with lower economic capacities and reduced community consensus, has further weakened the residents’ ability to undertake self-improvement initiatives and hindered collective cooperation.

The projects tackle these challenges through micro-regeneration designs implemented in twelve community sites, with the aim of creating thoughtful and effective interventions using limited resources. The primary objective is to establish a 1,800-square-meter shared living space that provides necessary living areas for residents, enhancing the quality of public life, and fostering a sense of belonging within the community. By inserting appropriate hardware facilities and reconfiguring existing elements, the projects aimed to transform the Lilong environment.

The regeneration efforts encompass various aspects of the community. Lilong entrances were redesigned and renovated to serve as extensions of private spaces or accommodate essential services such as security and information boards. Community squares, which have long been central to public life, are reimagined to integrate functions such as clothes drying, parking, and community events. Additionally, public facilities like toilets and garbage rooms are upgraded to improve their functionality and appearance.

Architect : TM Studio

Project location : Huangpu District, Shanghai

Completion Year : 2017

Area : about 450 sqm