Fuxing Island, a former industrial area in Shanghai, is transforming into a "future island", driven by innovative designs from around the world.

The Fuxing Island Global Design Competition entered its semi-final stage on Aug 3, drawing over 600 creative proposals from more than 1,300 participants spanning countries such as China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain. Contestants ranged in age from 15 to 84.

"We hope to find the richest and most interesting ideas and create the possibility of realizing them, so that the island's planning leaves no regrets," said Zhou Jianfei, head of the Detailed Planning Division of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources.

The revitalization plan emphasizes organic renewal, leveraging the island's existing 300,000 square meters of industrial facilities and dockyards. The vision is to cultivate a "future island" atmosphere centered on scientific and technological innovation.

This approach aims to provide affordable spaces for young entrepreneurs, transforming the area into a vibrant hub that nurtures innovation and stimulates vitality.

Among the notable proposals was one from Li Junpeng, co-founder of Beijing Zhushang Yipin, who presented a metaverse strategic plan based on the Classic of Mountains and Seas, an ancient Chinese text."

The Classic of Mountains and Seas embodies oriental aesthetics and boasts rich characters and geographical scenes, making it well-suited for integration into the metaverse as urban scenes, transforming the static association between people and objects into dynamic interaction," Li explained.

Another standout idea came from 15-year-old Tang Musen, a student at the School Affiliated to Shanghai University, who proposed child-friendly designs including electricity-generating pedestrian paths, smart-sensing umbrellas, micro-farms accessible by QR code, and misting cool-down stations.

As Fuxing Island moves forward as a pilot zone for Shanghai's quantum city spatial-temporal innovation, this open design competition reflects the island's ambitions to become a digital intelligent island, a hub of design art, and a people-centered urban space.

Source: Jiefang Daily