NNN25
ARENA
Chii Xu
Rotterdam
Next, Chinatown
When an urban society is overlapped with a spatial and diverse cultural layer, a cultural community is seen as the essential unit for outreaching and interacting with this complex environment. Community design is required for an urban designer to explore the intersection of spatial design and community development methodologies, top-down and bottom-up decision-making. Chii, as an urbanist, uses the Rotterdam Chinatown case to develop an experimental community design methodology and apply it to the on-site practice. It aims to stimulate communication and resource links within the Chinese community in a globalization context by utilizing open spaces as a medium.
This project starts with the preliminary background study, followed by creating a set of customized pattern languages as the communication, learning, and design tools to engage the Rotterdam Chinatown community and the Chinese community in Rotterdam. A live event held in public spaces of Rotterdam Chinatown is embodied as a performance to evaluate the efficiency of the vision co-created by stakeholders. The final outcome learns about the requirements of the Chinese community of Rotterdam and concludes with refined pattern language and scenario design based on the conditions of Rotterdam Chinatown.
This participatory design methodology featured for the Rotterdam Chinatown community fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment among the community members and encourages active participation in shaping the future of the community in a pure bottom-up approach.
Chii Xu, a young individual born in 1998, just gained her Master's degree in Urbanism at Technische Universiteit Delft. Prior to this, she studied Community and Regional Policy Studies at Ritsumeikan University in Japan, where she developed a deep understanding of the importance of cultural diversity and its impact on the world. Having lived overseas and experienced various cultural environments, Chii Xu has developed a unique perspective on the connection between herself and the world. She believes in the power of community building as a sustainable way to establish strong connections with people, drawing upon her professional background to foster meaningful relationships.
Chii Xu is passionate about creating vibrant and inclusive communities that promote social cohesion and support for one another. She strives to use her knowledge and experience to build sustainable connections that can positively impact the world around her.
