A Study on the Theoretical Framework of Shanghai Urban Renewal Empowered by Haipai Cultural Lineage and the Yizhifang Practice

Abstract

This study is set against the backdrop of Shanghai’s urbanization entering a stage of high-quality development. As the urbanization rate surpasses 63%, the focus of urban development has shifted from “incremental expansion” to “quality improvement of existing stock.” In this process, urban renewal faces two central questions. The first is how to effectively inherit and translate a distinctive historical and cultural lineage amid modern functional transformation. The second is how to achieve a dynamic balance between international paradigms and local and regional characteristics under the impact of globalization. To address these questions, this study integrates two theoretical strands. The first analyzes the everyday vitality and renewal practices of Hong Kong to distill a governance philosophy characterized by human-centeredness, cultural integration, historical revitalization, and flexible innovation. The second draws on research on Shanghai’s modern architectural culture to identify its core theoretical tenets: Sino-Western integration, Shanghai-style characteristics, and architecture as a cultural carrier. Together, these strands constitute the theoretical foundation of this study. Methodologically, this study mainly adopts a literature-based approach to analyze in depth the theoretical perspectives of the two core sources mentioned above. It uses a case study method, taking the “Yizhifang” project in Shanghai M50 Creative Park as an empirical sample to examine its transformation from industrial heritage into a multicultural space. It further applies functional deconstruction to analyze its spatial layout and mix of business formats. Through this research, the study constructs a four-dimensional theoretical model of urban renewal applicable to the Shanghai context: context extraction, function integration, human-centered adaptation, and innovative revitalization. Empirical testing of the “Yizhifang” case distills its experience in successfully integrating industrial context with modern functions and organizing flexible, innovative business formats. It also identifies shortcomings in the deep integration of Shanghai-style cultural symbols, the construction of community participation mechanisms, and the refinement of human-centered design details. The central conclusion of this study is the proposal of an optimized pathway for empowering urban renewal through Shanghai-style cultural lineage. The wisdom of Sino-Western integration, the pragmatic spirit, and the innovative genes embedded in Shanghai-style culture should serve as a core competitive advantage guiding urban renewal practice in Shanghai. By establishing a cultural lineage gene bank, building a composite cultural-ecological system, implementing refined human-centered design, promoting technology-enabled living heritage transmission, and creating a multi-stakeholder collaborative governance mechanism, this approach can provide a reference paradigm that combines theoretical depth with practical applicability for Shanghai and other cities with rich historical stratification to pursue culture-oriented sustainable renewal under globalization.