Sustainable Farm Renovation Design Strategies in Shanghai, China, under the Context of Agritourism

Abstract

This paper takes the Zhelin Town Farm Renewal Project in Fengxian District, Shanghai, as an example to discuss sustainable rural renewal strategies in the context of the integration of agriculture and tourism. Grounded in the research background of agritourism integration and rural renewal, the paper, through multidimensional theoretical research and practical engagement in the project, elucidates sustainability as a developmental trend and design vision for rural renewal under the agritourism integration backdrop. Additionally, through the study and analysis of relevant cases, design strategies and techniques are summarized and categorized at three levels: urban design, architectural design, and tectonic and structure design.The first chapter of the paper serves as an introduction. Leveraging the Zhelin Town Farm Renewal Project in Fengxian District, Shanghai, as a foundation, the research scope and design objects are defined in response to the needs of rural renewal and the background of agritourism integration. By reviewing and summarizing the research history and development trends of agritourism integration, rural renewal, and sustainable design for rural areas both Chineseally and internationally, the paper explores the driving role of agritourism integration in economic, cultural, and development path aspects for rural renewal. The second chapter of the paper focuses on the study of design strategies. Thirteen representative cases are selected as the main research objects, and from the perspectives of urban design, architectural design, and tectonic and construction design, nine sustainable rural renewal design strategies are summarized under the background of agritourism integration. These strategies provide a theoretical basis and guidance for the later practical design phase. Urban design strategies include the restoration and preservation of the rural context, utilization and response to the rural landscape, and industrial chains for realizing sustainable development. Architectural design strategies involve the translation of traditional elements, coexistence of old and new spaces, and communication among different groups. Construction design strategies encompass the integration of old and new materials, integration of old and new structures, and the application of sustainable technologies. The third chapter of the thesis analyzes the passive design strategies in Jiangnan traditional dwellings, summarizing and synthesizing them from three perspectives: environmental design, architectural design, and structural design. These strategies, upon translation into modern contexts, can serve as inspiration for contemporary rural architecture, offering valuable design strategies for sustainable rural construction. Chapter Four of the thesis constitutes the practical design component. Leveraging the theoretical foundations established in Chapter One and the design strategies synthesized in Chapter Two, rural revitalization design is implemented with Shanghai Fengxian District Zhelin Town Farm as the design subject. The vision for this design is determined by uncovering the unique characteristics of the site: to inherit the cultural essence of Jiangnan dwellings and promote the integrated development of agriculture and tourism. Specific application strategies for the design subject are proposed based on the content of Chapter Two: 1. Restoration of context, spatial optimization, functional integration; 2. Translation of traditional elements, community integration, public-private restructuring; 3. Integration of new and old materials, new and old technologies. Chapter Five of the dissertation is centered on sustainable design, building upon the Shanghai Fengxian District Zhelin Town Farm project introduced in Chapter Four. Concurrently, it endeavors to adapt passive design strategies traditionally employed in Jiangnan dwellings for application in modern architecture. This chapter adopts passive design as a strategy more suitable for rural areas with low cost and low technical requirements, proposing specific sustainable design techniques across four dimensions: reasonable window layout, optimized sunshade eaves, improved insulation and moisture-proof performance, and sustainable site layout. Furthermore, simulation using software such as Ladybug, Butterfly, and DeST is conducted to derive the optimal solution for sustainable strategies. Chapter Six of the thesis serves as a summary and outlook. Rural revitalization has gradually become imperative, with the integration of agriculture and tourism offering a new direction for maintaining rural characteristics and inheriting rural cultural heritage. Moreover, sustainable design has also become increasingly central to rural development. This thesis aims to summarize and conclude sustainable rural revitalization strategies under the context of agritourism integration from three perspectives: urban design, architectural design, and construction design, through theoretical delineation and case studies. Taking the transformation project of Shanghai Fengxian District Zhelin Town Farm as an example, it provides new typologies and references for rural revitalization and agritourism integration.