Revolutionizing Suburban Spaces: AICO's Baoshan U World

An Innovative Mixed-Use Development Reshaping Community Identity

Located in Luodian, Baoshan, a sprawling outer suburb of Shanghai, the Baoshan U World project by AICO is a testament to the power of innovative design and urban planning. The project, completed in 2017, has successfully reshaped the identity of the community, bringing a sense of vibrancy and dynamism to the suburban location.

The design team at AICO drew inspiration from the relationships between traditional communities, commercial buildings, their users, and nature. The result is a unique mixed-use development that enhances the quality of life for its users while also redefining the suburban landscape. The project adopts a penetrable perimeter block for the site, with continuous building facades defining an active public sidewalk. Multiple paths and small plazas invite people to the site’s heart, an energetic courtyard that serves as the community's social and fitness hub.

One of the unique features of this project is the combination of steel and window-wall system, especially the protruding window. This innovative construction technique, coupled with the use of red brick tile and gray aluminum panel, gives the project a warm and sophisticated urban campus feel. The project also stands out for its speedy process, taking just four months from planning idea to out-facade material selection.

The Baoshan U World project covers a total construction area of 30,511 sqm, with retail, office, and apartment areas making up the majority of the space. The design team faced the challenge of creating a development that could generate positive impact on the urban scale and provide the local community with a vibrant public space in a suburban context. Their solution was to focus on pedestrian convenience rather than automobile efficiency, a departure from the typical suburban model.

The project's success is reflected in its accolades. It was awarded Silver in A' Construction and Real Estate Projects Design Award in 2021, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation. The Baoshan U World project is a shining example of how thoughtful design and construction can reshape communities and enhance the quality of life for their residents.