Nuove 'immeuble villas' in edifici alti per le comunità urbane in Cina

The contribution concerns the activity of experimental design research, developed for the agency Elab of Shanghai, aiming to define new residential typological and morphological models for highrise collective residential buildings, which is a frequent building type in the rising Chinese cities. The research has been oriented to define new elements able to confer a new quality to contemporary habitat for a new generation of young Chinese communities, that are rapidly entering the contemporary urban life with global needs and desires starting from a glorious forgotten tradition. The modelling character of the proposal has defined ‘invariant’ and variable elements, able to be developed in specific projects and interventions. The research of analytical-design type is conducted in three phases: an initial survey study concerning the identification of the current prevailing housing models within the self-catered high rise residential buildings; the basic conception of a model of morphological settlements and a definition/ articulation of key themes suitable to be developed and investigated; the identification of prototype of optimal dimensional structure, at the level of district/neighborhood and of building, compatible with the social and urban relations for users; a conclusive phase deepening into the details of the definite themes, for the design survey of possible spatial elements, architectural, constructive, and materials able to activate an advanced life model for the community of new residents.