Planner builds on the past

CHONGQING－Individually, residential communities are merely small pieces of a larger urban puzzle. For He Shuaishuai, a PhD graduate from the University of Oxford, one little-known community in Southwest China's Chongqing is much more than that.

Majoring in heritage conservation and urban revitalization in college, after graduation, she was invited to Chongqing's Shapingba district via a local talent introduction program in 2017.

Last year, she became one of Chongqing's first 13 community planners, and the city's only female in the field.

As part of the city's public welfare service efforts, He now serves the Zhongxinwan Community in Shapingba district, helping to explore solutions to better renovate and revitalize the community.

Zhongxinwan used to be home, mostly, to the people working at the city's Special Steel Factory, says Peng Rongfu, a 69-year-old resident in the community.

In its heyday, the factory was once regarded as the leader of Chongqing's steel industry and the "mother" of heavy industry in Southwest China. However, it went bankrupt in 2005.

"The factory was like a miniature society, which even had its own cinema, kindergarten, hospital and media center," Peng recalls. "However, problems with the old buildings now are gradually emerging, such as poor drainage."

Since He took over the planning work at the community, she has been visiting on a weekly basis, chatting with residents and learning about the history and current problems facing the community's buildings.

"I'm not just a community planner, but also a keen listener to the opinions of the residents, discoverer of hidden problems in the community and communicator for the parties involved," says He.

While giving it a face-lift, she has also tried her best to preserve the community's memories. In late February, she helped hold an art exhibition themed around the community's past and future, with numerous old items and photos related to the steel factory on display.

Invoking these old memories can help boost local residents' sense of belonging to the community, while engaging the residents in the renovation projects can not only improve their living conditions, but also aid construction efficiency, according to He.

Li Yipin, 64, the former deputy head of the factory's television station, was attracted by the exhibition.

"The nostalgic photos are so rare in this modern society with its rapid development," Li says, adding that he still remembers how he enjoyed the performances by the factory's workers during Spring Festival in the past.

For He, such feedback from the residents makes her feel that her efforts are worthwhile.

"I used to devise plans for vast areas spanning several square kilometers, and such communities were just dots on my layouts. However, I realize the community is so important for its residents, as it is a home for their specific memories and emotions," explains He.

This year, Chongqing plans to enroll more than 200 community planners just like He, providing services for its 36 districts and counties and promoting the revitalization and upgrade of the city's living environment.

Xinhua