The Power of Urban Space: Creating Vibrant Economies

By taking the cases of Shanghai and Beijing as examples, this blog explores the relationship between urban space and economic vitality

As a student from Shanghai, I can personally feel the impact of urban design on economic vitality and realize that economic vitality actually lies in these everyday scenes. Whenever I walk in the downtown area of Shanghai or the new Tian Di in Hongqiao, I always see people willing to stay, consume and communicate. The common feature of these places is that they combine business, culture and public spaces very naturally. The originally old Shikumen buildings have become new sources of attraction not only because they have retained their characteristics but also due to proper design. Similar examples can be found in Beijing’s 798, where the old buildings have become more popular after renovation. This has also brought more business opportunities.

Moreover, these renovation cases have made me more certain that the vitality of a city is not maintained by a single function, but by spaces that allow different people, activities and business types to naturally come together. Good design can make a place truly “come alive”, with people willing to come and stay both during the day and at night. Now when I look at a city, I pay more attention to these details because they actually determine whether a place has vitality or not.

For additional details and visual content, please visit our Instagram page: @maurbandesign

https://www.instagram.com/maurbandesign/p/DSXMpdUgAQo/

References:

Zhang, J., Ren, X. and Li, C. (2020). Study on Urban Commercial Space Renewal Strategies Based on Space Syntax: A Case Study of Dalian Tianjin Street. [PDF] Available at: https://oss.baigongbao.com/2020/11/20/3ybGa3ThdX.pdf (Accessed: 9 December 2025).

Shen, Q. and Sun, F. (2020). What Makes Mixed-Use Development Economically Desirable? Working Paper WP20QS1. Cambridge, MA: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Available at: https://oss.baigongbao.com/2020/11/20/3ybGa3ThdX.pdf (Accessed: 9 December 2025).

UNESCO (n.d.) Dunhuang Forum promotes knowledge exchange: cultural heritage and creativity shaping a sustainable future. Available at: https://www.unesco.org/zh/articles/dunhuangluntantuidongzhishijiaoliuwenhuayichanyuchuangyigongsukechixufazhanweilai (Accessed: 9 December 2025).

Image source

The images are from Wikimedia Commons, 798 Official Album, Unsplash, and Instagram.

https://www.798artdistrict.com.cn/media/albums

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xintiandi6.jpg

https://unsplash.com/photos/busy-street-at-night-in-a-bustling-city-j6abj8S_nfQ

https://unsplash.com/photos/night-market-in-the-middle-of-houses-V_nKGHsgo5A

https://unsplash.com/photos/a-traditional-chinese-alleyway-with-red-lanterns-yaUjodVJsJQ

https://www.instagram.com/p/DOxAAGWkh1f/

https://mooool.com/en/shanghai-hongshoufang-by-lab-dh-sh.html