JWACA2025-006: Refiection and struggle on the renovation of local old communities in the cities

Abstract

This article examines urban renewal through three contrasting projects. The Chongqing Danzishi Old Street project recreated historical urban fabric through contemporary construction, reviving disappeared streetscapes through archival research. The Hong Kong Blue House project demonstrates "people, objects, and stories" preservation, maintaining original residents and community memory during renovation. The Shenzhen Baoluo Urban Village project addresses informal settlements through systematic upgrading, creating diverse housing types and public spaces within high-density conditions. It critiques standardized, top-down approaches and advocates for grassroots participatory design that respects existing social networks and local knowledge, arguing that authentic urban vitality emerges from preserving complexity rather than imposing uniformity.