LOCATION: No. 30 Donghu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China丨

TYPE: Campus Planning, Urban Design, Architectural Renovation, Interior Design, Landscape Design丨

SCALE: 4,212.69 sqm丨

DESIGN/BUILT: 2024 / 2026丨

PHOTOGRAPHY: Dang Hang

No. 30 Donghu Road is a full-scale urban renewal practice. Guided by the “from spoon to city” philosophy, the design extends from neighborhood studies to architecture, interiors, and landscape details. Starting with “reduction,” nearly half of the unauthorized structures were removed, freeing about 820m2 of north-south courtyards to breathe and life into the dense block. The goal is an “all-ages playground” integrating dining, retail, pop-ups, and lifestyle displays.

A three-dimensional promenade system—with bridges and spiral stairs—links courtyards, terraces, and rooftops into a loop for exploration. The architectural transformation strengthens the original structure and raises floor slabs to accommodate diverse programs. A new timber-steel canopy on the roof creates a semi-open space, reflecting the “farm to table” concept for events, exhibitions, or planting.