Designing the Middle Scale: Post-Industrial Cities as Living Hubs

Abstract

Urban shrinkage has been a topic that shadows many cities not only in the US, but also around the globe for years, and post-industrial as a typology specifically stimulates interest for this thesis. For the industrial cities that depend on certain resources or locations, the question is what their future is, and how can urban design help them transform under contemporary context. In response, the thesis is proposing solutions at two scales: a regional plan that connects cities with different characteristics, and an urban scale ring that re-activates the infrastructure residues from the industrial era. Building upon the existing theories and practices, the thesis is advocating for multi-scale solutions that transform the city based on life qualities instead of purely economic-driven development.