Civic Re-Spatialization of the Innermost Cantonese Water-Space

Abstract

Since the onset of reform and opening in the People's Republic of China (PRC) after 1978, decentralization of state power has arguably been the most consequential transformation of the Chinese political economy, underpinning the dynamics of economic growth and statesociety relations. The outstanding geographical manifestation of this process is the sudden growth of complex urban nodes and networks. Due to an urban history spanning more than a thousand years, recent rapid urbanization leading to the saturation of the available land, and geographic richness (the articulated topography anciently dubbed Bocca Tigris), the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region is now a place where the old meets the new. Skyscrapers stand next to low-rise houses and large innovative industrial plants shadow small traditional workshops. Vast fish farm compounds co-exist with tiny vegetable gardens, generating a unique integrated multi-scalar human habitat. This exceptional 'world of difference' catalyzes the attention of researchers such as Rem Koolhaas and Peter Bosselman, internationally renowned figures in field geography, planning and design. Researchers are attempting to understand and produce models for this new form of urbanism that constitutes the world's largest megacity. The PRD region, one of the world's fastest growing and most populated areas, also presents the world's largest 'floating' population. This megacity is home to about 20 million people; and recently they have faced poor and deteriorating social and environmental conditions. This phenomenon is particularly acute in the city of Guangzhou, one of the main nodes of the conurbation, where an antique and robust urban structure offers a remarkable contrast between the magnificence of its ancient architecture and the poor quality of some modern inner-city districts. It is crucial that the city is developed to provide better living conditions for locals coping with the peculiar and vibrant new urbanism of the whole PRD region. This thesis is focused on the re-urbanization and re-development of the waterfront area at the very center of Guangzhou. Through the strategic re-foundation of its central water space - the core of the historical civic space - design could contribute to support a better urban integration between individuals, community and society. Furthermore, bringing Pearl River's water space back into the life of the city will generate a new city form and urban landscape consistent with the PRD region's urban history. That regeneration will occur through the re-combination of the rich fragment sets present in the existing central city and the re-urbanization of the currently ineffective Pearl River water spaces.