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Introduction
Since the open door policy was adopted, China has launched a drive towards modernization and witnessed an exponential growth in construction activities. From the 1980s, large-scale building works designed by foreign architects have been introduced to the coastal and hinterland cities. The similar importation of overseas design was seen in the Middle East in the 1970s, and in Japan and other fast-growing Asian countries in the 1980s-1990s. But none of the countries in the world has experienced the importation of foreign architectural design of such immense quantity in such a short period (Xue, 2006a, 2006b; Cody, 2003).
In 2001, the Shanghai government declared to build 'one city and nine towns' in its suburban areas and planned to introduce the European townscapes of Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Scandinavia in the new towns, using conceptual designers from the respective countries. The announcement was soon associated with 'theme park-like development' by the mass media. The implementation of these projects aroused extensive discussions and debates among professionals and citizens. In spite of the criticism, the shape of some of these towns has already emerged on the horizon.
This paper tries to uncover the intentions behind the activities of 'one city and nine towns', introducing the mechanism of involving foreign architects, and the roles of foreign architects in the process. Several aspects of the foreign architects are focused on - first, their understanding of the design conditions, and strategies of problem-solving; second, the adoption and adaptation of their designs by Chinese developers and their attitudes towards the design of foreign architects; and third, the relationship between the Chinese and foreign parties in the process of preparation and construction.
Vittorio Gregotti is a native of Milano, Italy and his design of Pujiang Town in Shanghai was chosen to highlight the design and development aspects of this study. After a brief introduction of 'one city and nine towns' policy, the paper analyzes the design of Pujiang Town in detail. The views from the designer, developer and Chinese design partner are presented for a better understanding of the project. The authors hope that the case study and analysis will enrich the discourse of importation/exportation of architecture in fast developing Asian cities and provide a useful criticism for the practitioners...