Urban Planning, Policy and Everyday Use of Green Space: A case study of Huangpu District, Shanghai

This thesis examines historic and contemporary relationships between landscape design, housing and everyday uses of green space in urban China. In doing so, it draws together writing focused on theorizing nature and everyday life, to offer critical insights into urban political, economic, social and cultural change in Chinese cities. The thesis begins with a review of religious philosophies and cultural traditions relating to the development of Chinese gardens and then discusses the impact of the introduction of ‘western’ style public parks alongside the emergence of modern urban planning and design, in order to understand urban change in China. It then critically considers the contemporary political, economic and policy context and everyday practices associated with housing development and green space and residential life at different urban spatial scales. Evidence from in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and local residents highlights the diversity and complexity of everyday relationships between urban planning, housing and the use of green space, and shows that changing notions of nature and everyday life can be mapped onto housing development and associated urban, social and spatial inequalities. The thesis concludes with theoretical insights and also offers key recommendations for policy and practice based on empirical evidence which highlights routes to developing a more progressive relationship between landscape design, housing and the everyday use of green space in Chinese cities.