Yingde Commercial Street

A shopping street as an urban placemaker.

Located in the fourth tier Chinese city of Yingde already mapped on the Beijing-Guangzhou high speed rail line, Yingde Commercial Street is one of the first urban catalysts in a larger masterplan.

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanisation in China, and as bricks-and-mortar retail wanes with the prevalence of online shopping, we wanted the commercial development  to be a sensitive response to culture and place, but also have it woo urban dwellers and rejuvenate Chinese street life.

Our first strategy is to create a jagged, zigzag plan and a folding roofscape so the development echoes its surrounding—the mountainous topography of Yingde’s karst landscape—giving the mall a strong, distinct image that is rooted in place.

Also central to the placemaking strategy is the introduction of the pedestrian mall connected to a five-storey mall that replaces the ubiquitous large shopping complexes.

As water carves a river through mountains, a promenade threads between the low-rise strip, so a stream of activity visibly runs through it. Building corners are clipped or protrude to form vistas allowing people to pause and take in the life of the street. Boutique shops and al-fresco dining persuade them to linger.