Shanghai Underpass Hubs: Bridging Divides, Building Community

Honor Award

Urban Design

Shanghai, Shanghai, China
FISH DESIGN
Client: Shanghai Changning District Construction and Management Committee; Shanghai Changning District Planning and Natural Resources Bureau

Shanghai Underpass Hubs

A transformative initiative revitalizing underutilized spaces beneath overpasses along the Suzhou River, turning them into vibrant community hubs.

Image Credit: Shan Pan
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A Citywide Initiative for Connection

By bridging gaps created by overpasses, Underpass Hubs enhance access, create active spaces, and reconnect communities along the Suzhou River.

Image Credit: Shuai Yuan
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Suzhou River's Cultural Identity

Designers and experts engaged local communities through surveys and workshops, reshaping Suzhou River’s cultural identity with their input.

Image Credit: Left-side images: Yuanmin Lu, middle images: FISH DESIGN, right-side image: Shanghai Changning District Construction and Management Committee
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Sports Hub

A vibrant space under a complex overpass, blending with the riverscape, featuring basketball courts, soccer fields, running tracks, and more.

Image Credit: Ruijia Bai / Shuai Yuan
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Sports for All

The Sports Hub offers free, multifunctional spaces, addressing outdoor sports facility shortages and catering to diverse community needs across ages.

Image Credit: Top images (from left to right): Naixi/Qingshan Wu/Ziyue/Shanghai Changning District Construction and Management Committee , bottom images (from left to right): Daxiang/TERA WELLNESS/Sabrina Gao/Mengrenren
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Community-Driven Design

The three most popular animal themes chosen by local residents were incorporated into the sports zones through a voting process.

Image Credit: Top-left image: Qingshan Wu, top-middle image: Shan Pan, top-right image:Shanghai Changning District Construction and Management Committee, bottom image: FISH DESIGN
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Multimodal Connectivity

Multi-modal trails offer friendly, safe, accessible spaces for non-motorized transit, supporting strolling, running, and visiting various needs.

Image Credit: Left-side and right-side images: Shan Pan, middle image: Qingshan Wu
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Urban Resilience

Impermeable concrete was replaced with native planting and permeable surfaces, reducing flood risks and enhancing urban resilience and biodiversity.

Image Credit: Left-side image: FISH DESIGN, top-right and bottom-right images: Qingshan Wu
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Gathering Hub

The success of Sports Hub inspired a second hub, designed during COVID-19 to foster community reconnection in the post-pandemic era.

Image Credit: Left-side image: Jiahuan Zhang , right-side image: Ge Shi / Zhuojun Jian
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Pedestrian-Vehicle Harmony

Collaboration with the transportation department redefined the relationship between walkers and vehicles to create a pedestrian-friendly space.

Image Credit: Left-side image: FISH DESIGN, right-side image: Jiahuan Zhang
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People-First Transit

Changing the colors of railings and surfaces highlighted safe pathways, transforming the cold transportation infrastructure into a welcoming space.

Image Credit: Left-side and top-right images: Jiahuan Zhang, bottom-right image: Shan Pan
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Tubes as Legacy

Design elements like tubes reinforced the site's iconic identity, fostering interaction and honoring the area's industrial heritage with a tribute.

Image Credit: Top-left image: Budou, the rest images: Shan Pan
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Lighting Up Community

Strategic interactive lighting and localized slang graffiti transformed the once-dim underpass into a secure, vibrant gathering space at night.

Image Credit: Jiahuan Zhang
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Long-Term Sustaining Management

Community members contributed to creating and operating a café, generating income for ongoing maintenance and long-term management.

Image Credit: Left-side images：Shan Pan, right-side image: Junwen Ge
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An Icon of Diverse Community Spirit

Since its completion, Gathering Hub has hosted numerous events, attracted media attention, and become a spiritual center and community symbol.

Image Credit: Left-side image: Budou, middle image: Retogo, right-side image: Siqi Lin
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Evolving Beyond Boundaries

As Gathering Hub’s influence grew, it expanded into adjacent green spaces, creating open venues for art exhibitions and community events.

Image Credit: Left-side image：Shan Pan, top-right and bottom-right images: Shane
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“

A refreshing approach to the underway of cities. With the use of vibrant and straight forward materials, the underbelly and hidden accessways below roadways become places of connection - across the city and between people. These spaces that often-become divisions in the city, have been uplifted so that they can be places of gathering and congregation.

”

- 2025 Awards Jury

Project Credits

Shan Pan, International ASLA, Lead Designer

Jing Pan, Lead Designer

JieQiong Wang, Lead Designer

Ge Shi, Landscape Architect

ZhuoJun Jian, Landscape Architect

Xiao Zhou, Landscape Architect

MuZi Li, Landscape Architect

Ling Chen, Landscape Architect

RuiJia Bai, Landscape Architect

Shuai Yuan, Landscape Architect, Community Engagement Consultant

FISH ART LAB, Art Installation

A Bu, Graphic Designer

Project Statement

Shanghai Underpass Hubs has transformed underutilized spaces beneath overpasses along the Suzhou River into vibrant public areas, addressing the urgent need for high-quality open spaces in one of the world's largest and most populous cities. The project, encompassing the recently established Sports Hub and Gathering Hub, is shaped through extensive community engagement, integrating public input to create multifunctional spaces for recreation, sports, and cultural activities. By repurposing industrial materials and implementing sustainable strategies, the initiative fosters inclusivity, resilience, and resource-conscious urban innovation, setting a model for participatory urban renewal in Shanghai and other high-density cities worldwide.

Project Narrative

Shanghai Underpass Hubs reimagine neglected spaces beneath overpasses along the Suzhou River—a corridor integral to Shanghai's industrial and cultural history—transforming them into dynamic public areas. Once a vital artery for trade and manufacturing, the Suzhou River and its infrastructure fueled the city's growth but became underused as Shanghai expanded, exacerbating urban fragmentation and limiting public access.

Recognizing the need for high-quality open spaces, the project repurposes these neglected voids into multifunctional hubs for community use. The recent completion of the Sports Hub and Gathering Hub in 2024 marks the successful conclusion of the first phase, showcasing the vast potential of this citywide initiative.

Sports Hub

Nestled beneath a network of overpasses and seamlessly integrated with the scenic Suzhou River, the Sports Hub provides diverse amenities for people of all ages—including basketball courts, soccer fields, and running tracks—addressing the pressing shortage of outdoor sports facilities in this dense residential area.

Emphasizing local creativity, three popular animal themes—selected through a public voting process—are incorporated into the sports zones, infusing the space with a unique and playful identity. Connectivity is a defining feature, with multi-modal trails weaving through the hub, offering safe and accessible routes for walking, running, and cycling while linking the space to the surrounding urban fabric. Additionally, replacing impermeable concrete with native plantings and permeable surfaces mitigates flood risks and enhances urban resilience, improving both environmental sustainability and recreational appeal.

Gathering Hub

Inspired by the success of the Sports Hub, the Gathering Hub was conceived during the COVID-19 era to restore social connectivity in a post-pandemic world. This flexible venue fosters diverse interactions, encouraging public engagement. Collaboration with the transportation department redefined the relationship between pedestrians and vehicles, creating a safer, more accessible environment and transforming once-harsh infrastructure into an inviting public realm that prioritizes safety and inclusivity.

Artistic expression plays a pivotal role in shaping the Gathering Hub's identity. Repurposed industrial materials, such as tubes, pay homage to the area's heritage while fostering interaction with history. Works from local street artists add an authentic cultural layer, giving voice to the neighborhood's character. Strategic interactive lighting keeps the space vibrant after dusk, ensuring its continued use as a welcoming public destination.

To support long-term sustainability, community members played an active role in creating and managing an on-site café, generating revenue for ongoing maintenance and operations. Since its opening, the Gathering Hub has expanded into neighboring green spaces, evolving into a vibrant venue for a wide range of community events. As a cultural focal point, it has drawn significant media attention and has stood as a symbol of community pride.

Overall, the Shanghai Underpass Hubs exemplify how thoughtful, resource-conscious urban design can transform neglected infrastructure into inclusive public spaces. By celebrating local heritage, enhancing connectivity, and fostering social interaction, the project not only revitalizes urban life but also serves as a model for adaptable, sustainable renewal in high-density cities worldwide.

Products

Parks/Recreation Equipment
- Rucker Park
Hardscape
- BES

Plant List

Aucuba japonica 'Variegata', Nandina domestica, Salix × sepulcralis 'Chrysocoma', Verbena bonariensis, Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum', Rosmarinus officinalis, Billardiera longiflora, Iris sibirica, Nepeta cataria, Echinacea purpurea, Salvia uliginosa, Echinacea purpurea, Eupatorium cannabinum, Dianella tasmanica, Kniphofia uvaria, Coreopsis grandiflora, Gaura lindheimeri, Nassella tenuissima, Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'