Work of Syracuse Architecture Studios, Dean take Global Stage

An illustration of the urban village concept, which two of Syracuse Architecture’s studios design proposals deal with

When the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale opens on Dec. 15 in the Nantou Old Town village in Shenzhen, China, the work of the School of Architecture will be on full display:

• Student design proposals from two of the school’s studios will be on exhibit.
• Dean Michael Speaks will participate in an opening professional forum.

Architect Meng Yan (URBANUS, Shenzhen/Beijing)—a Syracuse Architecture visiting critic in spring 2017— is one of the Biennale’s three main venue curators; Syracuse Architecture students Minglu Wei (B.Arch ’19) and Nicolas Carmona Guzman (B.Arch ’18) assisted Meng Yan with the venue’s design.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong Biennale is the most prominent design exhibition in Asia, and widely considered one of the most significant in the world. Based on prior attendance, it is projected that 250,000 people will visit this year’s event over a three-month period, through March 15, 2018.  This year’s overarching theme is “City Symbiosis,” with the exhibition divided into three sub-groups: World | South; City | Village; and Art City. The two Syracuse Architecture studio exhibits fall within the City | Village category:

• Imagining the Future of Urban Village in Shenzhen
  This exhibit displays the proposals from a Syracuse Architecture visiting critic design studio of undergraduate and graduate students, led by Meng Yan and Ying Yujun, assisted by Speaks and Professor Wang Fei. The studio researched the urban village typology in Shenzhen and proposed alternative futures for its development.

• Post-Industrial Regeneration in Urban Village in Shenzhen
  This exhibition showcases the work of Syracuse Architecture students from Wang Fei’s spring 2017 undergraduate fourth-year integrated studio seeking to redevelop an urban village site and aiming to uncover its latent cultural and economic potential through a variety of interventions—from agricultural renovations to experimental residential and cultural event venues. Six projects interpret the social needs of the Nantou villagers and propose urban renewal schemes that integrate its existing industrial infrastructure.

“The Shenzhen Biennale is unique among the many global architecture biennales because it is always staged as a real world urban intervention,” says Speaks. “The work our students will have on display represents the culmination of diligent research, analysis and out-of-the-box thinking as they propose real design solutions for the future of urban villages in Shenzhen. To receive this high level of visibility is a great testimony to the quality of their work and the mentorship they’ve received from Wang Fei and Meng Yan in their studios.”

 Schedule of Syracuse Architecture-related events

Friday, Dec. 15, 5-8 p.m.
Shenzhen Architecture & Urbanism Biennale Opening
Nantou Ancient City, Shennan Ave, NanTou
Nanshan District, Shenzhen
Guangdong Sheng, China, 518052
Baidu Map

Saturday, Dec. 16, 2-5 p.m.
Shenzhen Architecture & Urbanism Biennale Professional Forum, featuring Dean Michael Speaks
Nantou Ancient City, Shennan Avenue, NanTou
Nanshan District, Shenzhen
Guangdong Sheng, China, 518052
Baidu Map

Sunday, Dec. 17, 6-8 p.m.
Syracuse Architecture Alumni/Friends Event
Shenzhen Institute of Building Research
#29, Meiao 3rd Rd., Upper Meilin, Futian District
Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
Baidu Map