Abstract
This paper explores how urban public space design in China responds to the growing demand for solitude, with a particular focus on the unique social and cultural preferences of the one-child generation. Drawing on relational thinking and affordance theory, the study examines how public spaces intentionally designed to promote social interaction are appropriated for solitary use. Through case analyses of public spaces in Shanghai and Yantai, China, the paper reveals the emergence of improvised and serendipitous affordances that reflect changing user behaviours and cultural expectations. This paper highlights the need to move beyond intent-driven design toward a relational model that embraces adaptive, inclusive, and continuous approaches. Three practical design implications concerning relational possibilities, continuous action, and addressing cultural contexts were proposed to guide future public space practices that better address solitude as a legitimate and enriching urban experience.
Keywords
Affordance; Only-children; Public space design; Solitude
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.71
Citation
Bi, X., Jiang, Y., Villani, C.,and Siu, K.W.(2025) Rethinking Public Space Design and Assemblage Affordances: A Perspective from China's One-Child Generation and Solitude, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.71
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 10 - Design Practices & Impacts
Rethinking Public Space Design and Assemblage Affordances: A Perspective from China's One-Child Generation and Solitude
This paper explores how urban public space design in China responds to the growing demand for solitude, with a particular focus on the unique social and cultural preferences of the one-child generation. Drawing on relational thinking and affordance theory, the study examines how public spaces intentionally designed to promote social interaction are appropriated for solitary use. Through case analyses of public spaces in Shanghai and Yantai, China, the paper reveals the emergence of improvised and serendipitous affordances that reflect changing user behaviours and cultural expectations. This paper highlights the need to move beyond intent-driven design toward a relational model that embraces adaptive, inclusive, and continuous approaches. Three practical design implications concerning relational possibilities, continuous action, and addressing cultural contexts were proposed to guide future public space practices that better address solitude as a legitimate and enriching urban experience.