From Large-scale Modernist Planning to Small-scale Urban Blocks: Spatial Transformation Experiments in China’s Large Gated Communities

Abstract

This study reconsiders large-scale gated communities in China shaped by modernist planning, which often lead to spatial inefficiency, social isolation, and unsustainability. Drawing on the theory of “urban cells,” it explores spatial densification through theoretical analysis, case studies, and a design experiment in Shanghai’s New Jiangwan Town. The proposed design restructures urban form through fine-grained grids, mixed-use blocks, and redefined plot hierarchies, enhancing both vibrancy and permeability. It also examines challenges of property adjustment and stakeholder coordination. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of transforming gated communities into open, sustainable urban fabrics. The study offers a transferable model with strategic implications for rapidly urbanizing regions across the Global South.