Lilong Arcade Community Center

Thank you. The design of Lilong Arcade was deeply shaped by its location in Shanghai’s historic French Concession—a neighborhood known for its rich blend of Eastern and Western architectural heritage. This unique urban fabric inspired us to explore how a contemporary civic space could respond to both local identity and modern needs.We adopted the traditional arcade as a unifying architectural motif—not only for its public-facing character but also because it resonates with both European and local building traditions. This allowed us to create a space that feels culturally rooted while fostering openness and walkability.At the same time, we saw this project as an opportunity to propose a forward-looking model for urban renewal in heritage districts. Rather than replicating the past, we focused on interpreting it—using contemporary materials, flexible programming, and spatial transparency to serve today’s community life. This fusion of historical continuity and progressive design helps bridge generations and cultures, turning the building into both a civic landmark and a symbol of evolving urban identity.

Thank you. The limited 937m² plot area presented a significant design challenge, so spatial efficiency and adaptability became central to our approach for Lilong Arcade. We developed a hybrid spatial system combining fixed and flexible zones to ensure the building could accommodate a wide range of community functions without requiring a larger footprint.Essential services such as the healthcare room, service center, and kitchen were placed in fixed spaces due to their technical requirements. Surrounding these, we created flexible zones—open-plan areas with minimal partitions and movable furnishings—that can adapt to various programs throughout the day, from fitness and elder activities to children’s play and educational workshops.This adaptive strategy allows the same space to serve multiple user groups at different times, optimizing use and promoting inclusive access. It also aligns with our goal of equitable public resource distribution, especially in dense urban settings where space is scarce but community needs are diverse.

The height constraint of approximately 3.5 meters was one of the most critical limitations in the Lilong Arcade project. Since we were working within the original three-dimensional boundary of the existing structure, we couldn’t increase the building’s height. This required a structural strategy that was both space-efficient and visually light.We chose to use small column span shallow beams—spanning 4.5 to 6 meters—to reduce the overall structural depth while maintaining spatial continuity. This system allowed us to minimize floor-to-ceiling thickness and maximize the usable vertical volume within each room.Additionally, in key areas, we increased the local spans and introduced an internal atrium to enhance daylight access and spatial permeability. These moves help alleviate the sense of compression caused by the height limit, creating a brighter, more open, and welcoming environment for users. Ultimately, this technical decision supports both architectural expression and user comfort, demonstrating how constraints can lead to innovation.