Organic urban regeneration: an inclusive urban design for rural-to-urban migrants in residential neighbourhoods in Ningbo, China

Through the process of urbanisation, rural-to-urban migration happens in a natural process. In some cases, we see a major transformation and in others, we witness a gradual assimilation of such influx. But in both scenarios, there is a challenge to decently accommodate those new urban residents into the existing settings. The infrastructure often cannot cope with the influx of such migration, and hence in a rapid urbanising context, this results in the development of informal settlements and/or in adapting existing built areas into living quarters. In this chapter, we investigate these phenomena in the Chinese context.

By analysing the residential area of Sangjia in Ningbo, Southeast China, we identify the backbone of issues faced by the rural-to-urban migrants living in the community. This is an inner-city settlement mostly occupied by migrants who work as the labour force across Ningbo. In this chapter, we clarify issues and fragilities, and provide potential (and concrete) solutions for master plan strategies and development of an inclusive (and sustainable) urban design model. This study explores the multiple dimensions of Sangjia, such as the existing built environment, the social cohesion, the economic generation, the local community and its needs, and the wellbeing of the inhabitants. Through a proposed organic regeneration model, we recommend a people-centric approach that informs urban design choices in similar areas/projects and that distances itself from the dominant relocating-clearing-rebuilding practices.