Community Art Creative Project
by Team CACP
Yulin 2nd Alley, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Project details
Year
2024
Project year
2021
Project website
Team credits
Collective
- Team CACP -
YIIIE architect,
Yulin East Road Community,
Quiet Bird Design,
The Unscientific Social Group,
The Trendy Group of Lane 2,
Creation Film,
MMWW Design,
YIIIE Open Desk Group,
CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee,
Chengdu Federation of Literary and Art Circles,
Chengdu Cultural Development Service Center.
Architects
- YIIIE architects -
Zhang Tang,
Xia Fan,
Chen Shenbin,
Huang Xi,
Xie Shuangshuang,
Tao Junxiang,
Zhang Hui,
Chen Tangqi,
Zhou Yuhan,
Bai Fan,
Lv Ying,
Huang Yuhan,
Dong Xuangui.
The Community Art Creative Project explores the potential of informal urban leftover spaces in China, addressing the neglect these areas face due to rapid urbanization and non-privatized land policies. As urban renewal progresses, these informal spaces present unique opportunities for revitalization. The initiative utilizes an interdisciplinary approach, engaging local communities through architecture, design, sociology and art.
Situated in Yulin 2nd Alley, an area marked by partially demolished buildings in a dense urban centre, the project serves as a hub for low-income groups, migrants, minorities and Indigenous residents. Over three decades, a socio-ecology has emerged as the community adapts to urban challenges.
The project revitalizes an abandoned bicycle shed into a vibrant public space that encourages recycling and community involvement. Constructed from recycled materials, this space is designed for functionality at minimal cost and future adaptability. It features a lightweight modular galvanized steel structure complemented by transparent polycarbonate panels that maximize natural lighting. The material selection prioritizes low-cost, locally sourced products.
The roof incorporates terraced planting, providing cooling benefits and scenic green views while fostering collective maintenance of public gardens. Additionally, the design includes sawtooth gaps that facilitate seamless integration with nature and enhance public orientation. The exposed structure supports ongoing modifications, while the planted roof serves as a community garden, further enhancing the ecological impact of the space.
Activities such as workshops on furniture renovation, resident meetings and exhibitions help connect stakeholders and serve as a focal point for urban renewal.
The initiative involved a group of 30 members, including community members and volunteers, who constructed the main steel structure. Skilled residents managed essential renovations. Furniture was sourced from repurposed items within the neighbourhood, fulfilling functional needs and fostering community connections.
Understanding the marketplace’s importance to local culture, the project collaborated with street vendors to address informal economy concerns, establishing a business-residential alliance.
This project embodies a light-touched, soft-edged design philosophy, highlighting the construction process and demonstrating a commitment to community empowerment and sustainable urban living.
Team CACP, initiated by YIIIE Architects, is an interdisciplinary group consisting of professionals and students from architecture, design, sociology, communications and art. This collaborative team engages with various stakeholders, including residents, merchants, government officials and volunteers, focusing on the dynamic aspects of urban communities.
With an open, fluid and diverse structure, Team CACP welcomes members to join or leave as needed. The team emphasizes the importance of process in understanding societal dynamics, viewing events as ongoing rather than static. By receiving feedback at each stage of their work, they continuously refine their approaches.
The team’s interventions address urban challenges by fostering community participation through events that emphasize sustainability and social engagement. Over time, they have established resilience by forming alliances among government, local youth, and autonomous resident groups. Their interventions have included community discussions on issues like fire hazards and traffic safety, along with collaborative improvement projects.
The concept of ‘The Multi-layered Alley’ emerged from their research, encouraging diverse working groups to engage with the space dynamically. The project promotes creative expression and sustainability, integrating artistic interventions to address social issues and support local vendors. These efforts have revitalized channels of communication between top-down government initiatives and bottom-up community actions, enhancing urban life.
Through participatory construction, Team CACP has explored sustainable practices, such as creating community gardens and improving local businesses. Their comprehensive approach aims to create a thriving, inclusive community with sustainable growth while ensuring the continuity of collaborative learning and engagement, ultimately fostering stronger connections within the neighbourhood.
The prize money will fund the establishment of a community garden in the project area and expand the initiative to include nearby streets and alleys, enhancing the market with urban furniture. Following the implementation of the CACP project, local stores have also received government funding for upgrades.
The next phase focuses on exploring the connections between social engagement, ecological responsiveness and design aesthetics to promote sustainable development. By collaborating with interdisciplinary groups, resident alliances and joint action teams, the project aims to refine its ecosystem and integrate diverse practices for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Using the new public space as a foundation, the team will design community garden infrastructure, invite florists to open shops and conduct workshops to balance public activities with commercial operations. This collaborative approach will promote new business opportunities while extending the community model to other aging courtyards. Enhancements such as street furniture and visual systems will improve safety and cleanliness, encouraging greater community participation and attracting new visitors. Lastly, findings will be compiled into an academic publication to share insights on these practices and inspire further dialogue.
- Information for the project text was provided by Team CACP -
Image gallery
Advisory Committee Statement
The ‘Community Art Creative Project’ receives the award for Local Scale due to its community-based intervention in the streets of a neighbourhood in Chengdu, where in-between spaces serve as meeting and trading places. The project was initiated by a self-organized group of professionals and residents who applied urban design principles to foster participation and engage with society. It aims to address the challenges confronting Chinese street culture in modern times. The project’s design considered the area and its immediate surroundings, including adjacent housing and the socioeconomic network.