Study on architecture and urban spatial structure in China’s mega-cities suburbs

This book introduces research of Dr. Tiziano Cattaneo, a researcher
of University of Pavia in Italy and Visiting Professor at Tongji University
in Shanghai.
Cattaneo’s presentation and studies are about China’s urbanization
through a multidisciplinary approach. In particular, focusing on the
urbanization of small towns. The book describes methodology and
results of a two years research project build upon his extensive investigations
in China. He has been teaching and constantly developed
research activity in between EU and China since more than 10 years.
Those provided him with unique insights which combine academic
and lived experiences, and thus perfectly correspond with overall ethos
of The EU-China Partnership on Urbanisation.
The novelty of this book resides in the fact that combines both
Chinese and Western understanding together. Too often, judgments
are made according to a Western value system and experience, while
the real and complicated social, political, cultural context, and constrains
are being ignored consciously or unconsciously. It is very hard
to apprehend Chinese urbanization and architecture away from the
roots of Chinese context. That’s why we need to draw on experience
from each other, strengthen interaction and cooperation, jointly seize
the opportunities and cope with the challenges of the future, and strive
to achieve win-win results.
Prof. Dr. Zheng Shiling