Trace of Daily life:
measurement the interior of a entire lane house
Hongkou District, as a relatively late urban renewal area in Shanghai, has a large number of dilapidated lane communities that are being demolished. Gong'an Lane is one of them. With the persuasion of government, residents moved out from their old houses and moved to the suburbs to start a new life.
MASTERPLAN
Ruikang Lane is one of the well-preserved lane communities in Hongkou District. Although
it has been spared the fate of demolition, it has also undergone many transformations along
with urban renewal. Behind exquisite new buildings as part of the regional gentrification
process, there are shabby but lively lane houses. I walked into house No.175 in Ruikang
Lane, took measurements of its entire interior, and recorded with hand drawings.
Ruikang Lane is one of the well-preserved lane communities in Hongkou District. Although it
has been spared the fate of demolition, it has also undergone many transformations along
with urban renewal. Behind exquisite new buildings as part of the regional gentrification
process, there are shabby but lively lane houses. I walked into house No.175 in Ruikang
Lane, took measurements of its entire interior, and recorded with hand drawings.
FACADE
Even outdoors, the vivid atmosphere of life is very distinct. Wild wires stretched
everywhere are mixed with clotheslines hanging sweaters, and under the haphazardly installed
outdoor air-conditioning units is a parking shed spontaneously built by residents. Among
this chaos, the blooming flowers on the windowsil add a lovely touch to the facade.
LANE
The alleys at the back of houses are quieter than the front, and showing a warmer
atmosphere as well. The washbasin in front of the gate tells the narrowness of the room
inside; the green plants carefully displayed are no longer just decorations, but have become
a garden, rendering a sense of greenery in this community.
ONE-POINT-PERSPECTIVE PLAN
The hand-drawn floor plan shows the details of life on the three floors with
perspective: the electric motorcycle at the gate, the steaming rice cooker in the kitchen,
the unarranged quilt in the teenger's bedroom, the old newspapers piled up by the elder man,
and auntie's antique dressing table...
A building that once belonged to one family is now home to four families.
Medium of Communication:
a booklet sharing results of research
As the culminating output of my survey, I compiled a booklet featuring my technical drawings
and evocative sketches. To enrich the connection with the community, I revisited House
No.175 and distributed the booklet to its residents.
In doing so, a resident aptly expressed, "Although we have been neighbors for years,
we
only know our own kitchens and bedrooms, and didn't have any knowledge of the entire house."
This medium not only deepened residents' comprehension of their individual lane houses but
also fostered a greater understanding among neighbors, transforming the communal dynamics
and enhancing the sense of shared space.
BOOKLETS SHARED WITH PUBLICS
The booklet not only introduces the historical background of the entire Ruikang Lane
community, but also comprehensively displays the structure and layout of house No.175
through hand-drawn plans, sections, axonometrics, and elevations.
The booklet not only introduces the historical background of the entire Ruikang Lane
community, but also comprehensively displays the structure and layout of house No.175
through hand-drawn plans, sections, axonometrics, and elevations.
The auntie who lives on the north side of the first floor is the social king of this lane. She was excited to share the booklet with her friends in the neighbors. They had a heated discussion and was surprised that this was the first time they saw the full picture of the building they live in.
CONVERSATION WITH NEIGHBORS
The grandpa who lives on the south side of the second floor in house No. 175 used to be
a
teacher. He put on his reading glasses and quietly wrote words of encouragement on our
booklet.
