Project Name: Qingdao Liyuan Smart Block Design and Construction Integrated Project (EPC)
Project Scope: Dabadao Area in Qingdao (Jiazhou Road, Haibao Road, Boshan Road, Sifang Road Area)
Smart Block Facilties Designed and Implemented: Multi-functional integrated streetlight poles, full-state perception system for the block, and interactive information guidance system, among others.
As early as 2019, the urbanDATA team began participating in the research, planning, and design of the renewal and transformation of the historic and cultural block in Dabaodao (Sifang Road-Jiaozhou Road, etc.), the old city center of Qingdao. The area retains the most iconic historical buildings and blocks of modern Qingdao, but at the time, with the relocation of industries, it faced a state of overall hollowing out. Due to preservation restrictions on additional space, the traditional model of renewal and expansion through real estate development was no longer sustainable. There was an urgent need for a new development strategy that could protect the spatial heritage and historical features while introducing new businesses to revitalize the historic district.
Against this backdrop, based on a comprehensive analysis of the area's history and characteristics, we adhered to the concept of "integrating life into the streets," designing, developing, and implementing a smart project for the approximately 160,000-square-meter Liyuan historic and cultural block. The project was completed and installed on schedule in May 2020. Through integrated, intelligent, and comprehensive street facilities, we created a scenario-based perception and interactive urban interface, enhancing the humanized quality of the streets. On the foundation of ensuring a rational block structure, we applied smart information technology to urban blocks, delivering a brand new spatial experience. After three years of cultivation and development, the Dabaodao area has become the most distinctive and vibrant part of the old city, a destination for modern cultural experiences in Qingdao, and a hub for new urban cultural and creative industries, gradually driving the renewal and development of surrounding areas.
After field research, we proposed the concept of "Urban Ark—Unraveling the Knot of History." The historic block has such a location and nearly a century of modern industrial and commercial cultural accumulation. How to restore its role as "a vessel filled with vivid memories of urban life" through the creation of smart block scenes was the focus of our design and development. Through studies of the site, space, and behavior, we categorized the block's spatial types into:
The creation of smart scenes, including smart lighting and facilities of different types, was designed and distributed according to these four categories, aiming to create a rich spatial experience that combines movement and stillness, history and future.
Through the design and development of an integrated smart facility application system, the block's operational status is perceived in real-time, including visitor numbers and flow patterns. Predictive and early-warning analyses of pedestrian flow dynamics are conducted, and the smart information guidance system guides visitors to explore the services and products offered by block merchants in depth. Through the smart facility interface of the block space, multi-dimensional and immediate connections are established among visitors, business users, and block operating institutions, enhancing the efficiency of business services and activating sustained commercial prosperity.
Sensor technology for smart facilities and communication networks based primarily on optical fiber and 5G wireless technology have matured, creating favorable conditions for the popularization of smart blocks. We are committed to applying technology to green and sustainable development models in an optimistic manner, bringing a more positive and healthier lifestyle to the public. Smart facilities improve operational efficiency and precision while reducing costs. Intelligent lighting adjustments based on pedestrian flow and time changes can save approximately 20% of light energy consumption. Smart block facilities display urban weather, traffic, living facilities, and historical and cultural information in real-time, providing visitors with convenient, fast, and new spatial experiences for exploring the city.
Qingdao is a National Historical and Cultural City and a key city for the protection of historical features. From historic blocks to modern industrial parks, this project represents a beneficial exploration and attempt by Qingdao to promote industrial integration and the revival of the old city. The old urban area is embracing new industries with a new urban functional positioning. For design institutions, the ability to identify and solve problems from a more comprehensive perspective is both a challenge and an opportunity.