Cao Zhen
IN more than three decades of exploring the potential of cities around the world, Charles Landry has seen the trend of transforming a city of production into a city of innovation. And, if his maiden visit to Shenzhen was any indication, he maintains an intense curiosity about what will be the next step for Shenzhen after the city was awarded the title of “City of Design” by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization in December.
During his three-day visit this week, the British urban guru explored tirelessly, questioned endlessly and listened attentively. From Tianmian City of Design, to Foxconn Technology Group, Artron Art Gallery and OCT-LOFT, he photographed everything of interest to him, enjoying digging deep into the hidden side of the city.
“I like this sort of area,” said Landry on Tuesday afternoon at OCT-LOFT, an art complex in Overseas Chinese Town that was once occupied by old factories.
“I’ve been to so many cities around the world where they have destroyed these areas, but later on said: ‘We wish we had kept it!’ The new economy likes old buildings and old buildings are good for new ideas,” said Landry.
An acclaimed international researcher on urban planning and city futures, Landry, the author of “The Creative City: A Toolkit for Urban Innovation” and “The Art of City Making,” said a creative city was a place that finds interesting solutions to problems or opportunities.
“A creative city is a complex, with lots of layers. The art of city planning involves extreme skills, really doing something well. But I also mean that you use traditional art. I don’t want people to take the art of city planning as a formula,” said Landry.