Shankangli is situated at the intersection of North Shaanxi Road and Kangding Road, with its central building being a Western-style red-brick structure. Throughout its history, this location has served as a police station, a Sikh temple, a repair factory, and a building materials market. There are buildings representing the concession era, industrialization period, and modern times, each featuring a mix of compromise-style, industrial-style, and modernist architecture. By redesigning and integrating these three distinct architectural styles, the ground floor of the building materials market and street-level shops in the community have been transformed into an enclosed commercial district. The design is culture-oriented, and we utilize historical resources to inject high-quality public functions, promoting the revitalization of these historical buildings.
While preserving the original architecture, the design strengthens and enlarges the entrance. At the main entrance on Kangding Road, a portion of the original sloped roof is removed, widening the entrance to present an inviting gesture. Additionally, the glass facade facing the entrance plaza makes the building transparent, showcasing interior activities to the street, and attracting onlookers to pause and enter the open space within the district.
The spatial planning adapts to the original scattered layout of the buildings, establishing small-scale streets and squares. The configuration of boundary spaces generates different external spatial features, including varying-width passageways, and open or enclosed squares, crafting diverse and open activity spaces. The plaza offers more outdoor space for shops, enhancing their social attributes. The preserved large trees enhance the ambiance of the plaza. By incorporating low walls, a designated play area for children is created. Water features at the end of alleys and lanes, the placement of artworks, and the provision of public furniture contribute to the creation of leisurely and therapeutic spaces, providing a gathering place for nearby office workers and residents.