The key to SOM’s award-winning Master Plan for Shanghai’s Chongming Island was a program to preserve and advance agriculture as the island’s major economic engine. The plan incorporates sustainable techniques to facilitate the development of a series of dense, transit-rich cities housing nearly one million people, yet occupying less than 15% of Chongming’s land.

Project Facts

Completion Year: 2004
Site Area: 194,249 hectares

Project Awards

2007 • AIA - Chicago Chapter • Sustainable Design Award: Citation of Merit
2007 • MIPIM/Architectural Review • MIPIM Future Project Award: Regeneration and Master Planning, Highly Commended
2005 • AIA • National Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design
2005 • Congress for the New Urbanism • Charter Award

Long considered Shanghai’s “rice bowl,” Chongming Island is one of the largest alluvial islands in the world and is known for its rich and fertile land. The economy of the 750 square mile island is driven by agriculture. SOM’s development plan repositions Chongming as a “green island,” focusing on promoting agricultural output and the preservation of natural wetlands that serve Asia’s primary Avian flyways. In rapidly urbanizing China, SOM’s plan calls for the urban development of eight new cities, which cover only 15% of the island. Each community will consist of walkable and accessible districts that will accommodate 800,000 people to live and work. Proposed transportation infrastructure will bring rail connections to the center of each city. A sustainable approach to energy and water treatment will also be implemented.

Chongming will be a reflection of “best practices” in urban design and planning. The Chongming planning themes are as follows:

1 Wilderness Areas /Eco-Systems
Restore wetland wilderness areas; they form strong natural habitats for a broad community of wildlife.

2 Organic Farms
Maintain farming as core business, shifting the focus to organic products and direct sales to Shanghai restaurants. Higher quality produce will increase farmers’ income.

3 Green Systems
Tie all cities to green filtration lake system. Introduce an island-wide lake system.

4 Inland Street Grid
Preserve historic farm grid of narrow streets throughout the island. Minimize overscaled highways.

5 Rail
Connect all cities by rail to Shanghai.

6 Green Villages
Define 40 farm villages organized around lakes within close proximity to the farmlands.

7 Coastal Cities
Organize 8 cities along the south coast focused on rail transit.