Shanghai World Expo ReUse

In the one half day, and misty rain environment of which I had to enjoy and check out the World Expo in Shanghai, I must admit China is putting on quite a show. What an incredible spectacle of buildings, park, shops, infrastructure, views, and information. This is an incredible venture.

However, the real question is re-use? According to one of the informed participants in my rapid tour, there are significant pieces of the project that are going to remain in place long after the World Fair closes, however, what is the reality of the market for this large and open space. If it is anything like many of the former Olympic Villages I have visited, they turn into large unused parks. However, I have a better idea for this reuse, and in China I think it can be done, and that is to turn it over to a private developer to create a new World Expo City. This would include office towers, apartments, condos, retail, a new destination. Although the location is close to the downtown of Shanghai, with the incredible investment in infrastructure, the multiple public art pieces that may likely remain, it seems like and incredible City could be created that would be incredible. If you look at the sales pitch of Mori building company, they focus on building the City vertically to create green. What a better place than this environment to do this, and what a better developer than the creator of Ropponghi Hills in Shanghai to tackle such a task. I would love to see what this would become as a reuse under the likes of Mori Building Company, Shui Yuan Land, or Mitusi Fudosan, it would be a truly incredible site, and an even more incredible city.