Urban Reflection on COVID-19
URBAN REFLECTION ON COVID-19 is a student initiative that asked the participants to discuss the phenomenon and heuristic solutions within the field of Chinese Urbanism, and to provide ideas of how to manage this crisis in a post-pandemic future.
This initiative was organized by Columbia Global Centers | Beijing and Columbia University Urban China Network, a student organization of the Urban Planning program within the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
Echoing the theme of the 7th Urban China Forum held in October by UCN, this initiative expanded the discussion and brought in diverse perspectives of students, allowed them to have a deeper understanding of interested urbanism topics, and communicate their thoughts with fellow students and scholars.
The initiative received more than 100 constructive and innovative design and essay works from young scholars and students over the past six months. These works discuss the phenomenon and heuristic solutions within the field of Chinese Urbanism and provide ideas of how to manage this crisis in a post-pandemic future.
Six design and essay award winners were selected after a full month of review by a number of experts, including Weiping Wu, Professor of GSAPP and Director of the Master of Urban Planning Program, and Guicai Li, Dean of the School of Urban Planning and Design of Peking University.
Panel Discussions
To facilitate and invoke in-depth conversation on topics related to Chinese Urbanism, the initiative hosted two panel discussions, featuring Columbia alumni, professors, and practitioners.
Learn more about each panel and watch the highlights and full recordings below.
Panel I: Big Data Response Mechanism of Post-COVID-China Urbanization
This panel discussion provided a great opportunity for the public to learn from Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation's faculty and young scholars and practitioners' insightful perspectives and innovative projects on the application of big data response mechanism in the urban planning sector during the post-pandemic era.
Featuring remarks and discussion with:
Weiping Wu, Professor of Urban Planning at Columbia GSAPP and Director of the M.S. Urban Planning program
Peiqin Gu, Co-founder & CTO of CityDNA Technology
Yang Liao, Planner of Shenzhen Urban Planning and Design Institute
Helena Rong, Doctoral student of Urban Planning from Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University
Panel II: Post-COVID-China Urbanization
This panel discussion on the phenomenon and heuristic solutions within the field of Chinese Urbanism in a post-pandemic future was joined by two professional practitioners in the field and award winners, who shared their inspiration and insights behind the works.
Featuring remarks and discussion with:
Jun (Joe) Cai CBS '18 EMBA, Co-Founder of JALP Architecture and Planning, Chief Architect, Member of Shenzhen's Construction Project Bid Evaluation Committee, Executive Committee of Columbia Alumni Association of Beijing
Shih-Ning (Steven) Zhou GSAPP '13, Architect, Deputy Design Director of the Architecture Department at Beijing Institute of Architectural Design——iaud, Editor & Translator of Detail Kultur (2016), by GSAPP Prof. Christoph a. Kumpusch
Exhibition of Excellent Design Projects
In August, Columbia Global Centers | Beijing co-curated a month-long exhibition to showcase award-winning and outstanding design projects to everyone interested in related topics.
