Foster + Partners has won a competition to transform Shanghai's Putuo District. The 3.2-square-kilometre masterplan focuses on the urban regeneration of the area surrounding Shanghai West Railway Station, creating a new gateway to China's most populous city. Structured around key transportation modes, the project includes two parallel pedestrian corridors that connect the station to Zhenru Temple and a new urban center planned on a currently undeveloped site. The masterplan follows the 2024 proposals for the Changfeng mixed-use development within Putuo District's Shanghai Science and Technology Finance cluster, part of the broader Shanghai 2035 Masterplan.
This renewal of centralities and transit systems is expected to redefine the urban experience for both residents and visitors. The two main pedestrian routes, Peach Tree Canal and Commercial Avenue, form a circular loop through the district, lined with peach blossom trees and adjacent public amenities. Together with the station renovation, they aim to create an integrated transportation hub that connects multiple modes of transit and links new mixed-use centers.
In the project, the Shanghai West Railway Station area is revitalized with a public park and a plaza with built-in seating, connected to the elevated walkway. The master plan also includes the restoration of existing storefronts and the creation of new pocket spaces along Zhenru Temple's cultural axis, along with new cultural buildings and retail on either side. The design for the new district center introduces a mix of cultural venues, sports facilities, offices, housing, and retail across an adjacent 234,000-square-metre site. A landmark mixed-use tower serves as the centerpiece of this new 24-hour district.
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Shanghai Architecture City Guide: 30 Projects Showcasing the City's Diverse Contemporary ArchitectureMarilu Sicoli from Foster + Partners highlights that the project works with the site's existing assets, "enhancing the canal network, extending green areas, and improving connections to important cultural landmarks." The project includes the removal of barriers along the canal's edge to improve views of the water and enhance the pedestrian experience. In addition, it reflects the firm's understanding of environmental strategies, which include urban greening, rooftop rainwater collection systems, and integrated photovoltaic panels.
Other recently announced urban renewal projects include Zaha Hadid Architects' masterplan for Khalid Bin Sultan City in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and the early development stages for Riyadh's World Expo 2030. Also in Sharjah, architecture firm HWKN has developed a new commercial district designed primarily using artificial intelligence, while in Riyadh, a new Royal Arts Complex designed by Bofill Taller de Arquitectura is currently under construction. Foster + Partners also recently won the competition to design the National Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, a space for reflection in London's St James's Park featuring a new bridge inspired by the Queen's wedding tiara.
