The New Weizhi Valley, located on Dingxi Road in Shanghai’s Changning District, has recently opened its doors. This three-story building covers a total area of 6,600 square meters and was designed and renovated by Sanyi, encompassing architecture, interior, and landscape design. Originally the site of the Paris Spring Changning store, it underwent two years of urban renewal and business restructuring. Today, it serves as a distinctive hub for the digital transformation of Changning District’s economy. New enterprises specializing in chip design, blockchain, and scene design have moved in, creating an innovative space that integrates government, industry, academia, research, application, and financial services.
A stunning transformation of traditional commercial district landmarks
△ Vintage photos of Paris Spring
△ Contemporary view of the renovated building
Dingxi Road’s Paris Spring is located just 1.14 kilometers from the Zhongshan Park commercial district, one of Shanghai’s core commercial hubs. This district features multiple shopping complexes and smaller commercial streets, making it a focal point for physical retail stores. However, in recent years, the dominance of traditional shopping centers has waned due to the rise of e-commerce, evolving consumer habits, and the emergence of new commercial formats.
△ Vintage photos of Paris Spring
In April 2019, the Paris Spring Changning store on Dingxi Road closed. Five months later, Jiuhua Commercial Group, a subsidiary of Changning District, partnered strategically with CREATER Chuangyi and the Shanghai Institute of Microsystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Double Innovation Demonstration Base. Leveraging the proximity of the Institute of Microsystems and the Institute of Ceramics—both just a street away on Dingxi Road—they aimed to establish a new landmark for the artificial intelligence industry in Changning District’s “Hongqiao Intelligent Valley.” In October 2019, Sanyi’s Interior and Landscape Business Unit won the contract and began the building’s redesign.
△ Building entrance
During the initial design phase, the team at Sanyi envisioned the project as the “AI Engine” of Dingxi Road, representing the eastern section of Changning District’s “Hongqiao Intelligent Valley.” They aimed to avoid a cold, impersonal technological atmosphere. Instead, their design sought to harmonize people, technology, and the environment, creating a vibrant, engaging space that serves not only as a work and exhibition venue but also as a welcoming place.
01 Simple yet Striking Facade
A CLEAN, POWERFUL FACADE
The renovation focused on a simple, elegant facade that interacts well with the surrounding environment. During the day, the pure white walls paired with large, sequential French windows create a strong visual impact while maximizing natural light and bringing the outdoor landscape inside.
△ Sequential French windows
△ French windows bring outdoor light and scenery inside
At night, the French windows illuminate the street corners with a warm interplay of interior and exterior lighting, enriching the urban landscape.
△ Architectural night view
02 Functional and Personalized Office Space
PRACTICAL OFFICE ENVIRONMENT
△ Architectural atrium
The interior renovation prioritized functionality and natural light by reopening the original rooftop skylight. This allows daylight to flow evenly, creating a mist-like partition that adds vitality to the space. It enhances lighting for the open conversation area around the atrium as well as the surrounding office spaces.
The atrium floods the interior with natural light
The building’s commercial and office areas feature warm wood tones, blending wood and concrete to create a distinctive and carefully designed atmosphere.
The interior predominantly features wooden veneer finishes
△ Architectural floor plan
03 Warm and Inviting Urban Public Spaces
COZY PUBLIC AREAS
The small plaza in front of the building
Beyond the building itself, Sanyi also redesigned the small plaza out front. The goal was to make New Micro Smart Valley not just a tech office space, but a community-oriented commercial hub offering a welcoming urban environment for local residents.
The plaza now offers ample space for activities
Previously, the plaza was enclosed and inward-facing with chaotic circulation and little appeal. The redesign focused on clarifying the site’s vertical relationships and creating a smooth, inviting flow from the city street into the building. Sufficient open space was preserved for people to gather and rest, transforming it into a comfortable urban public space.
Diagram of vertical landscape design
Residents enjoy relaxing and playing in the plaza
On April 19, 2021, the “New Micro Intelligent Valley · Science and Technology Innovation China” project officially launched as part of Changning District’s Economic Digital Transformation Base in Shanghai. Zhang Wei, Deputy Secretary of Changning District Committee and Acting District Mayor, attended the ceremony. He emphasized leveraging the “Science and Technology Innovation China” brand to advance the Hongqiao International Open Hub, expand new integrated technology transfer models, and build a precise technology innovation service system unique to Changning. The initiative aims to boost resource allocation efficiency and competitiveness, invigorate the technology innovation ecosystem, and contribute to Shanghai’s regional economic growth.
△ Interactive exhibition space on the second floor
As a leader in urban renewal, CREATER has set a new example with projects like Yuyuan Road. The New Micro Intelligent Valley project builds on this success, aligning with the “Science and Technology Innovation China” policy and continuing the development of the “Hongqiao Intelligent Valley” industry cluster. By leveraging talent and resources from the Microsystems Institute, it fosters an “AI Engine” complex that integrates AI applications, smart experiences, retail, co-working, innovation incubation, and more. This has attracted leading high-tech companies and technology transfer service firms such as Silicon Rui Technology, Liyin Wanwu Technology, Taidi Technology, New Micro Technology, Hengdi Private Equity Fund, and Kuma Group Architectural Design Consulting.
△ Companies moving into office spaces
Looking ahead, New Micro Intelligent Valley · Sci Tech Innovation China will continue to focus on artificial intelligence, leveraging the expertise and resources of the Association for Science and Technology and the Microsystems Institute. It aims to foster a professional industrial cluster, support the strategic development of Changning District’s Hongqiao Intelligent Valley, and become a premier base for scientific achievement transformation and talent development in science and technology innovation.
△ Architectural reality view
Project Information
Project Name: Shanghai New Micro Intelligent Valley
Project Type: Urban Renewal
Address: 1328 Dingxi Road, Changning District, Shanghai
Site Area: 1,700 square meters
Building Area: 6,600 square meters
Design Period: September 2019 – June 2020
Construction Period: January 2020 – August 2020
Construction Unit: Shanghai Chuangyi Industrial Co., Ltd
Creative Concept: Li Yongjie
Project Leader: Yu Bing
Scheme & Architectural Design: Yu Bingzhou, Qiu Zhaosong, Shen Rui
Structural Design: Chen Siqiang
Mechanical & Electrical Design: Luo Jin, Wang Yiqin, Li Yaqing, Li Yang
Landscape Design: Zhou Yixiang
Interior Design: Zhou Yixiang, Zhang Jing, Yu Bing
Lighting Design: Zhou Shuaiwei
Construction Unit: Shanghai Chuanghong Construction Group Co., Ltd
Architectural Photography: Liu Songkai
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