SHIPYARD

Shipyard
Shanghai | China

A Bold Tribute to the Past, Designed for the Present

Shipyard is a bold public space intervention developed by 100architects for the 2019 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season (SUSAS) international competition. The project aimed to artistically regenerate a section of the Yangpu Waterfront, a site historically used as a welding platform for shipbuilding, located along the banks of the Huangpu River.

Embracing the site’s rich industrial past, the design draws direct inspiration from shipyard aesthetics—specifically, the skeletal frame of a ship under construction. However, instead of steel and rust, the structure emerges in vibrant orange, transforming the memory of the ship into an expressive, contemporary installation filled with rhythm, color, and public energy.

The project serves two main purposes:
First, to activate a previously underutilized space by fostering social interaction and public life through seating, play, and gathering zones. Second, to preserve and reinterpret the site’s historical identity, offering a poetic homage to the former industrial glory of the riverfront.

A system of Corten steel ribs rises directly from the site’s original bronze grid, referencing the exposed frame of a ship mid-construction. These ribs shape the spatial narrative of the intervention, stretching from the bow to the stern, and organizing a variety of functional elements along the way—amphitheaters, seating, resting lounges, playful slides, and open gathering areas.

Vertical green cylindrical planters evoke the image of ship chimneys, while triangular shading structures resemble abstracted sails, giving both visual rhythm and environmental comfort to the space. The design also integrates lush planters and diverse seating typologies to enhance the space’s comfort and usability across all ages.

Everything is wrapped in a striking orange palette, deliberately contrasting with the industrial tones of the surroundings and injecting new life into the waterfront. This color choice enhances visibility and impact, ensuring the project stands out not only as a sculptural landmark but also as an open invitation to public engagement.

More than a simple urban installation, Shipyard becomes a vivid narrative—celebrating the cultural and architectural legacy of the Yangpu District while projecting it forward through art, play, and spatial poetry.

CREDITS:

Project Name: Shipyard Plaza
Design: 100architects (Shanghai)
Design Team: Marcial Jesús, Javier González, Mónica Páez, Lara Broglio, Gong Xun, Marie Anseaume, Cosima Jiang.
Client: Shanghai Urban Space Art Season 2019
Area: 924 m2
Completion: August 2019
Location: Shanghai, China

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