Event
Landscape for Urban Growth: Suzhou Industrial Park as Case Study of China's Urbanization Movement
Zhongjie Lin, Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning, PennDesign
This presentation is part of Dr. Lin's ongoing book project on China’s urbanization movement and focuses on Suzhou Industrial Park as a case study of what is called the model new towns. Functioning as a self-contained new town, the SIP emerged as a new type of special economic district and, notably, the first one created as a joint-venture between China and a foreign government, Singapore, representing the influence of global economy and local politics. This presentation will outline the experience and lessons of this project from three perspectives: planning as economic catalyst; international partnership as political experiment; and urban design as instrument for place making and place marketing, and to sustain social order.