AIA Shanghai Update - October 2024

Village Tour: The wind in the field. Building the sustainable rural community 

Recent Events

Project Tour to DIIS (Design Innovation Institute Shanghai) 

July 6 2024

Host: AIASH+DIIS 

Sponsors: Roca 

CES: 2 LU/HSW 

The Design Innovation Institute Shanghai (DIIS) is an exciting non-profit research institute founded in 2020, in collaboration with the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informalization and the Shanghai Hongkou District Government. Housed in the historic North Bund building, previously the Henry Lester Institute of Technical Education, and renovated by ECADI, DIIS aims to foster a new interdisciplinary teaching environment that promotes technological design research and industrial transformation.  Phase one, opened in 2022, includes not only traditional and heritage, but also seminar and lecture halls, workshops, laboratories, and training centers, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and non-degree certification programs.  Phase two will further support the school’s mission to cultivate new industries and creativity for the future. 

Symposium: Wellness, Wellbeing, and Sustainability in Hospitality Design  

Juliol 25 2024 

Host: AIASH (Sustainability Committee) 

Sponsors: Roca 

CES: 2 LU/HSW 

AIA Shanghai Sustainability Committee, in partnership with Roca, organized a symposium focusing on well-being, wellness, and sustainability in hospitality design. As climate change and well-being rise to the forefront of the hospitality industry, travelers increasingly seek facilities that prioritize health. The American Express 2023 Global Travel Trends Report indicates that 73% of respondents plan vacations to improve their physical and emotional health. This symposium explored how these evolving expectations will impact hospitality design. 

Social Networking Event 

August 1 2024

Host: AIASH 

CES: N/A 

This was a fantastic opportunity for members to expand their professional networks, exchange ideas, and forge connections with like-minded individuals. 

Symposium: Decoding Domestic Tourism. Culture, Economics, Min Su  

August 15 2024

Host: AIASH  

Sponsors: Roca 

CES: N/A 

As the global environment evolves, domestic travel and tourism have surged in importance, with China experiencing a dramatic drop of 87 million outbound visitors in 2023, down from a peak of 155 million in 2019. Remarkably, three in four Chinese travelers are now choosing to explore their own country (CNBC). This shift raises key questions: How are Chinese designers and operators leveraging this trend, and what considerations should be made when designing for domestic travel? To address these issues, the event featured three self-made designers and entrepreneurs from Shanghai and Chengdu, who shared their insights, experiences, and the challenges they've faced in successfully developing their projects and brands. 


Village Tour: The wind in the field. Building the sustainable rural community 

August 31 2024

Host: AIASH  

Sponsors: Firefly, Alanli, Panmu, Xiangban 

CES: 2 LU/HSW 

The event featured an engaging introduction by host Zhang Tianle, followed by Mr. Zhu Shengxuan, Chairman of the Countryside Companion Group, sharing The Story of Ji Jiadun.  Resident architects Zhang Tianle and Xing Yongheng shared their experiences, discussing their journeys in urban and rural areas and presenting innovative concepts like Building a Garden without Elephants. After a dynamic dialogue on the vital role of architects in countryside construction, we dived into New Winds of Rural Culture and Tourism with discussions led by Shengxuan Zhu and Jiafeng Sun. Finally, we explored the creation of an Ideal Village Community, featuring student shares on their impressions and inspirations, along with an exchange of ideas among participants on sustainable community building, focusing on developing a humanistic and ecological community that celebrates the essence of a hometown at your doorstep.  

Fafa Liu

Assoc. AIA, AIA Shanghai Secretary