Atmospheres of Shanghai: Scenarios of Ascent, Fading, and Transition
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60923/issn.2724-2463/21440Keywords:
Atmosphere, Urban Landscape, Perception, Documentation, ShanghaiAbstract
Shanghai’s urban landscape reveals a com plex interplay between material transformation and sensory perception. This study explores how the notion of atmosphere— understood as a dynamic configuration of material, social, and emotional elements— can serve as a lens for interpreting con temporary urban experience. Through theoretical references to Zumthor, Böhme, Pallasmaa, and Griffero, the paper situates atmosphere as both a perceptual and cultural phenomenon. The methodology is articulated through five analytical frames— Atmospheres of Ascent, Atmospheres in Fading, Atmospheres in Transition, The City of Toys, and The Play of Shadows—each addressing a specific condition of Shanghai’s evolving urban fabric. Writing, photography, and video are employed as analytical tools to capture ephemeral transitions between public and private, physical and digital, collective and individual realms. The results reveal how urban atmospheres embody both continuity and change, mediating between memory and innovation. Ultimately, the research suggests that atmosphere can act as a bridge between perception and design, offering new perspectives on how to inhabit, document, and reimagine the contemporary city.
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