A Study of Development and Evaluation of Nightscape in Shanghai

Abstract

Considering the current worldwide attention placed on the research of characteristic landscapes, the nightscape of a city has become an extensively studied field. The author examines Shanghai, the first city in China to engage in the construction of nightscape. In this paper, the conditions in Shanghai to construct nightscapes and the scale of Shanghai's nightscape are summarized. The features of four representative nightscapes in Shanghai, namely the Pedestrian Street of Nanjing Rd., the Bund, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and the People's Square, are analyzed in detail from the aspect of regional spatial characters, composition elements, and evaluations of impressions. The research shows that the element of space has been taken into consideration in Shanghai's construction of its nightscapes, but it reveals that further measures should be taken to ensure the features of the nightscapes in harmony with the character of the city. Finally, the author proposes that more attention be paid to the culture and traditional customs of a city in constructing its nightscape. How to synchronize the city's culture with the construction of the landscape and establish a reasonable plan is worth discussing in the future. © 2006, Architectural Institute of Japan. All rights reserved.