The Ruihong Xincheng development is a large-scale, mixed-use urban regeneration project involving a formerly deprived Shanghai neighbourhood. Once a slum area, it occupies a key location in Hongkou – a centrally-positioned, 58-hectare district at the crossroads of a number of key land parcels near Suzhou Creek, about 15 minutes away from the Lujiazui CBD.

Developed over a 25-year timeframe beginning in 1996, Ruihing Xincheng is a phenomenally large undertaking, involving some 1.67 million square metres of ground floor area (GFA). It consists of 10 phases of mid- to high-end residential properties (1.11 million square metres), office buildings (273,000 square metres), lifestyle centers (242,000 square metres), culture and entertainment space, high-quality community amenities, and public space.

Given the project’s huge size, the temptation for many developers would be to adopt a functional, factory-like approach, resulting in a sea of uniform, high-density towers, insufficient or inappropriate retail or community facilities, excessive road traffic, and very little landscaping. It is a testament to the dedication of developer Shui On Land that, through many marathon development phases, they have maintained a consistent focus on their original design concept. In addition, instead of rushing to completion, they opted for a long-term approach and a consistent dedication to quality rather than profiting from a fast turnaround.

Although the master plan evolved over the years to take into account changing development philosophies and on-the-ground realities, in particular by gravitating towards a mixed-use approach as opposed to the original, predominantly residential development, the creation of a high-quality, family-oriented community was always the goal.

It has achieved this in a variety of ways. Firstly, despite the project’s overall size, planners have achieved a very human scale in the context of individual neighbourhoods and facilities. As one juror said: “Its of a scale that is actually very underwhelming – it allows people to feel they are in a much smaller community than the numbers suggest.”

Secondly, planning and design diversity and excellence has established a wide range of facilities ranging from retail, dining, junior and senior schools, clinics, daycare, sports centres, entertainment facilities, and open spaces. A focus on versatility and quality residential finishes, trends, and aesthetics has also been a compelling factor for buyers.

According to another juror: “The essence behind this from an architect’s point of view is that there is a variety of ways to interpret development that are consistent with the client or developer philosophical approach, and that can also meet the government guidelines. The fact that the developer has reached out to other developers, architects, and master planners suggests that a project like this should not be a “mono” site, but should be variable, with many areas of interest. That way, it will draw in people and maintain a consistent level of quality.”

Thirdly, there is a focus on placemaking and community activities. Hundreds of events – involving sports, pets, parenting, home renovating, etc – are organised each year aimed at bringing the community together and creating social connections.

Finally, high levels of sustainability were a focus from the beginning – showing a level of commitment and far-sightedness in this respect even when they were not the imperative they have become in modern times. Ruihong Xincheng was the first LEED-ND pre-certified community in eastern China, and the development holds a variety of other sustainability certifications. Carbon intensity throughout the development has decreased by 38 percent in 2021 compared to 2011 figures.

The size of the commercial component (now amounting to around 400,000 square metres) was increased in 2010. Although it is more than needed to serve the immediate neighbourhood, the strategy was to connect the space between the two local metro stations to form a business spine, creating sufficient critical mass for a CBD that serves the entire northern part of the city.

Ruihong Xincheng’s success is evident in its financial results. An ongoing commitment to creating a high-quality product aimed at satisfying consumer demand has created a virtuous cycle where word-of-mouth recommendations lead to strong demand – according to the developer, some 30 percent of sales have come as a result of internal recommendations from existing residents to friends and family. Residential sales prices are currently 20 percent higher than properties built in the same period in adjacent neighbourhoods.

View all thirteen winners for the 2022 ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence.