Shanghai, China: Landscape Upgrading of the ECUPL丨Case Study⑬

Landscape Upgrading of the East China University of Political Science and Law: 

a Century-old Campus Embracing Waterfront Greenspace

The Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek are the mother rivers of Shanghai and have had a presence in the city since it was opened to the outside world as a commercial port reflecting the natural ecological landscape of the city. In recent years, the municipal government has committed to waterfront construction as well as water quality management, reconnecting riverside walkways with historic buildings and developing a greener, more culturally rich waterfront for citizens. 

Located next to the Suzhou Creek, the East China University of Political Science and Law (ECUPL) changning campus landscape upgrading project has marked an excellent example of this effort. This century-old campus, which used to be closed to the public, is surrounded by the Suzhou Creek on a wedgeshaped peninsula (see Figure 4.4). In 2021, the campus was subject to a major renovation in which old school buildings were refurbished with their historical features carefully preserved. The campus then removed its fences and was opened to the public, fully integrating itself into the surrounding green spaces along the creek, allowing local people to enjoy and benefit from the natural ecology. A number of key measures were undertaken:

Figure 4.4

Aerial view of ECUPL’s 

changing campus landscape

Source: East China University of Political Science and Law

Firstly, the area along the river was set back and the campus was integrated into the waterfront space. Prior to renovation, the ECUPL waterside trail could only accommodate two people side by side, and at its widest the trail was less than 2 m, separated from the campus by a fence. Following renovation, the fences and 18 temporary buildings were demolished and the public riverside area was opened and extended at its widest point to approximately 98 m, providing public access to the historic buildings for the first time.

Secondly, trail greenspace was optimized to create an ecological space with clean water and trees: the total green area on the 900 m long shoreline now reaches 6,600 m². These green habitats were carefully designed. Any shrubs that intruded or affected the landscape of historical buildings were completely removed. Suitable flowers and trees were then planted along the entirety of the waterfront, including the trail, with consideration given to diversity. Indigenous plants more acclimatized to the local environment were also introduced along with plants in harmony with the architectural landscapes to improve the appeal of the space.

Building facades were repaired ensuring their historical features were preserved to maintain their traditional and low-carbon vision. In this case, the public waterfront space has the distinct local advantage of being a historical building complex at ECUPL – a feature that has been highlighted by paying close attention to the historical features of the buildings and structures. 

The construction team collected an extensive range of historical photos and materials in an effort to restore the original appearance of the buildings while capitalizing on the know-how of traditional, lowcarbon architectural technologies. One example is that of the Gezhi building which contained original clear brick walls covered with less breathable red and grey coatings that prevented the original brick from breathing. Experts from the Shanghai Cultural Relics Bureau were able to guide the construction team in their adoption of a series of traditional processes that included paint removal, cleaning, polishing, repairing, jointing, pointing, strengthening and waterproofing to repair the surface of the wall, helping it regain its smooth, naturally breathable qualities. The construction team also discovered circular vent holes in the lower part of the Gezhi building which had managed to keep the building dry for a hundred years despite its location on the riverside, and renovations have further protected the elevated space to ensure the floor remains dry for even longer. These buildings perfectly illustrate the long human history and traditional local wisdom as it is expressed in architectural technologies that deserve to be continued.

This case highlights the power of integration, offering a green and open public space suitable for walking as well as connecting the campus with the surrounding communities. In terms of cultural inheritance, the local historical continuity is maintained by combining historic relics and modern restoration technologies. This optimized ecological environment with profound humanistic characteristics makes Shanghai a strong model for sustainable development.