Xin’an Jiuru

The Xin’an Jiuru urban regeneration project in central Wuhan is based on a careful assessment of the existing built fabric, distinguishing what should be preserved, what can be transformed and what may be replaced. The aim is to reactivate the district through targeted and incremental interventions, improving the quality of public space and the continuity of ground-floor uses, while maintaining a reversible approach rooted in the memory of the place. The project area is located along Hanzheng Street, a historic commercial corridor developed at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers, and focuses on the system of two streets and three alleys within a perimeter of approximately 10.8 hectares. This fine-grained urban fabric, characterised by historic buildings and slow pedestrian routes, is affected by infrastructural and environmental issues, including disordered overhead cabling, inefficient drainage and the informal occupation of sidewalks for logistics and storage. The design strategy concentrates on the public realm through the reorganisation of thresholds, the undergrounding of utilities, the redesign of walking surfaces and a series of small-scale, distributed interventions. Materials from selective demolitions are recovered and reused in pavements and urban furnishings, reinforcing continuity between existing structures and new transformations. The regeneration process also addresses the productive and cultural dimension of the district. Alongside traditional retail activities, new functions related to fashion, food, creativity and urban experience are introduced. The Creative Fashion Hub plays a central role in coordinating spaces, programmes and activities, while digital signage and narrative routes support orientation and enhance the experience of moving through the neighbourhood. Environmental strategies respond to Wuhan’s climatic conditions through the introduction of green infrastructure, permeable surfaces, green roofs and systems for managing rainwater, improving microclimatic comfort and reducing the urban heat island effect. Slow mobility, shaded areas and a network of sensors support the adaptive management of public space. A central, open and flexible square acts as a shared civic space for everyday use and public events. A digital framework accompanies the entire life cycle of the project, from planning to operation, supporting an incremental and long-term transformation of the district.