Scenes city-making:Creating a city of good life with the place aesthetics:Taking Chengdu as an example
"Scenes city-making"is an innovative urban development strategy that leverages the concept of"scenes"to craft tailored urban environments,thereby enhancing the quality of life and the aesthetic appeal of cities.This strategy is anchored in four key dimensions:scene definition,creation,empowerment,and planning.Scene definition involves the identification of unique urban"places"as"scenes",recognizing their distinctive attributes that contribute to identity and community resonance.It is about acknowledging the specialness of a location and nurturing it into a community-connected scene.In Chengdu,this focus extends to opportunity creation,poetic living,diversity,and ecological living,utilizing the"city opportunity list"model to identify and leverage city opportunities for scene creation relevant to the local context.Scene creation is about bringing these scenes to life,designing spaces that not only meet functional needs but also evoke emotions and inspire engagement.It transforms defined scenes into realities that enrich the urban landscape.In Chengdu,scene creation emphasizes innovation,experience,service,and branding,which are crucial drivers for scene empowerment.Scene empowerment integrates created scenes into the city's system,propelling economic,cultural,and social development.It ensures that scenes are active participants in the city's ecosystem.Moreover,the"scenes city-making"approach emphasizes the integration of technology and innovation,which are pivotal for modern urban development.By harnessing smart city technologies and sustainable practices,cities can better manage resources,reduce waste,and improve the overall efficiency of urban operations.In Chengdu,scene empowerment is a strategic move to integrate scene development into the global park city vision,aiming to create a vibrant and sustainable city.Scene planning weaves scenes strategically into urban policy,guiding sustainable and inclusive development aligned with city goals.It integrates scene planning into broader urban development frameworks.This approach is evident in Chengdu's efforts to integrate scene development into its global park city vision,which includes the ambitious Tianfu Greenway Project.This project aims to transform Chengdu into the world's largest urban green space,enhancing the city's landscape and becoming a low-carbon city.The Tianfu Greenway is a testament to the"scenes city-making"strategy,as it does not only aim to convert one-third of usable land in Chengdu's urban area into green space by 2035 but also to add 1,920 km of greenway to the city,with plans for an additional 16,900 km of paved trails lined with vegetation and separated from traffic.This monumental effort serves multiple purposes:it makes Chengdu a"City of Garden and Parks",links parks,nature reserves,and cultural and historical sites across the community,and boosts the economy while creating spaces for residents to relax,exercise,and socialize."Scenes city-making"should optimize scene endogeneity,balance space and human creation,and adapt the scene concept to various urban contexts.It requires dynamic,iterative processes with feedback from planners,stakeholders,and communities,incorporating technology and data for effective scene development.This approach enriches human experiences,fosters community,and contributes to urban vitality.It offers a holistic urban development approach,recognizing cities as networks of scenes creating a vibrant,livable,sustainable environment.In essence,"scenes city-making"is a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond physical development;it is about creating a network of scenes that enhance the urban experience.It is a strategy that has been successfully implemented in cities like Glasgow,which reinvented itself from a polluted industrial city to a cultural center,focusing on arts,media,and business services.This transformation resulted in an economic renaissance for Glasgow,showcasing the potential of the"scenes city-making"approach to revitalize cities and improve the quality of life for their residents.By embracing"scenes city-making",cities like Chengdu are not just developing physical spaces;they are crafting environments that resonate with their residents,foster community,and contribute to the overall vitality of the urban landscape.This approach recognizes the importance of creating urban environments that are not only functional but also emotionally engaging and aesthetically pleasing,thus providing a high quality of life for city dwellers.