Operational frameworks for the renewal of modern chinese residential heritage: a case of Shanghai

This research investigates the regulatory and operational tools currently reshaping the renewal of modern residential heritage in China, focusing on Shanghai. It examines the evolution from the 2003 local regulation to the 2025 national guidelines, which have established a multi-level evaluation system integrating historical, social, technological and transformative values. Within a context where China is both a global leader in renewable energy and a major contributor to CO2 emissions, the study analyses how technical codes and standard atlases function as complementary devices: the former defining performance requirements, the latter translating them into applicable design solutions. The paper highlights the emergence of a renewal-oriented culture in the Chinese context, demonstrating how operational frameworks structure effective intervention in the existing built environment.