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Dongtan, Shanghai

Coordinates: 31°31′09″N 121°55′13″E / 31.519288°N 121.920261°E / 31.519288; 121.920261
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Dialectric (talk | contribs) at 22:54, 25 April 2022 (→Proposed Design: condense). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the new town in South Korea, see Dongtan, Hwaseong.
Dongtan
Map
Coordinates: 31°31′09″N 121°55′13″E / 31.519288°N 121.920261°E / 31.519288; 121.920261
CountryChina
MunicipalityShanghai
CountyChongming
Elevation
4 m (13 ft)
Websitewww.dongtan.cn
Dongtan, Shanghai
Traditional Chinese東灘
Simplified Chinese东滩
Literal meaningEast Beach
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDōngtān

Dongtan was a planned development described as an eco-city on the island of Chongming in Shanghai, China. Design began in 2005, and by 2010 the development had stalled. The project has been described as a failure.[1]

Proposed Design

Project planners estimated a population of 10,000 by 2010 and 500,000 by 2050.[2][3][4]

Energy-efficient construction, waste-to-energy systems, and wind power were part of the original plan.[5]

Dongtan was presented at the United Nations World Urban Forum by China as an example of a purpose-built eco-city, the first of up to four such cities to be designed and built in China by Arup. Initially proposed as a carfree city utilizing only green transport, plans were later revised to allow private vehicles onto the site.[citation needed]

History

McKinsey & Company was involved in developing the initial vision for the project.[5] The British engineering consultancy firm Arup was contracted in 2005 by the developer, the Shanghai Industrial Investment Company (SIIC), to design and masterplan Dongtan, an eco-city on Chongming Island close to Shanghai, the first of a planned series.[6]

The 2008 conviction of prominent supporter Chen Liangyu contributed to the project's failure.[7]

Reaction

The reaction to Dongtan has been mixed, although recent media coverage has largely been negative due to delays and shortcomings in the project's execution.

Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone praised Dongtan as pioneering work leading to a more sustainable future.[8] His sentiments were echoed by other prominent British politicians, including Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, although none of them have ever visited the site.[9]

Critics have argued that Dongtan will not have a big impact on existing Chinese cities, which will still house the majority of the population.[10]

The main designer, Thomas V. Harwood III, is also taking part in many environmentally less friendly projects in China, including airports and office blocks. In 2008, Arup received the "Greenwasher of the Year Award" from Ethical Corporation magazine.[11]

Several sources described the project as a Potemkin village.[12][13]

See also

  • Julie Sze, Fantasy Islands: Chinese Dreams and Ecological Fears in an Age of Climate Crisis, 2015, Univ of California Press, ISBN 9780520959828
  • Herbert Girardet and Zhao Yan, Shanghai Dongtan: An Eco-City, SIIC, 2006, ISBN 978-7542622433
  • Huangbaiyu
  • Masdar City

References

  1. ^ Chang, I-Chun (5 January 2017). "Failure matters: Reassembling eco-urbanism in a globalizing China". Environment and Planning. doi:10.1177/0308518X16685092. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  2. ^ Herbert Girardet (31 July 2006). "Dongtan - the world's first eco-city". World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Green Building: Eco City design to be reviewed in Birmingham". 18 April 2007. Archived from the original on 25 April 2007.
  4. ^ Douglas McGray (2008-05-15) [24 April 2007]. "Pop-Up Cities: China Builds a Bright Green Metropolis". Wired Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-03-25.
  5. ^ a b Larson, Christina (6 April 2009). "China's Grand Plans for Eco-Cities Now Lie Abandoned". Yale School of the Environment. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  6. ^ Kane, Frank (6 November 2005). "British to help China build 'eco-cities'". The Guardian. London.
  7. ^ Hillary, Brenhouse (24 June 2010). "Plans Shrivel for Chinese Eco-City". New York Times. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  8. ^ Arup press release: "London looks to the East for inspiration to cut emissions" Archived July 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Malcolm Moore (18 October 2008). "China's Dongtan demise is mirrored by bad news for Britain's eco-towns". London: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2009-02-04.
  10. ^ chinadialogue, 中国与世界，环境危机大家谈 - article about China and urban sustainability Archived January 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Ethical Corporation blog: Arup and Dongtan, worthy winner of Greenwasher of the year Archived January 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Ethical Corporation blog: Arup and Dongtan, worthy winner of Greenwasher of the year Archived January 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Dongtan: Eco-Potemkin". China Economic Review. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
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