4TH URBAN SPACE AND SOCIAL LIFE: THEORY AND PRACTICE

Rapid City Re/development

Location: Tongli Town (a traditional water village), China

June 13-15, 2013

4C5M Studio’s mission and the Tongji University initiative were designed to raise the intellectual and practicing consciousness on many urgent issues in rapid city re/development. In many city re/developmental projects, we investigated questions like what roles preservation played in re/creating warm and welcoming living environment for all walks of life? We also attempted to expand the concept of preservation thatwent beyond preserving a physical structure to include values, lifestyle, culture, and communities; the concept of hospitality beyond restaurant and hotel businesses to include the environment and design of the place which are welcoming and people -friendly.

Tongli, 11 miles from Suzhou, China, is a well-preserved water village with more than 1,000 years of history and culture. The conference will be held in a world heritage site, Tuisi Garden, a residential house inside the water village. In collaboration with College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, the conference is organized by 4C5M Studio, hosted by Town of Tongli