Urban renewal

The area of Sloterdijk, west of the city centre of Amsterdam, is undergoing a radical transformation. As a result of the 2008 financial crisis this initially mono-functional office area suffered high rates of vacancy. The lack of housing and public amenities lead to a decay of the environment as a whole. Reacting to the housing shortage crisis, the city of Amsterdam formulated a new zoning plan transforming vacant office buildings into short-stay apartments and allowing for additional 1,500 to 2,000 new dwellings to be built. Sonia Mangiapane The Student Village is built in the direct vicinity of the Sloterdijk Station. It is a modular structure based on a prefabricated student housing unit. The construction method and its low cost me... More

Ex Cinema Meastoso was built in 1912 in order to become a cinema. It was then expanded in 1939 and renovated in 1975 from the actual property; it continued its activity until the 2007 when it had to close due to the deep transformation that it was involving the cinemas in that period. Today the building, completely renovated by the deamicisarchitetti' project which was commissioned by the property, opened again with a new public and collective role. The project, which mixes both contemporary and 30’s vintage elements, gives back to the city a building that hosts a new sport centre and wellness centre. Alberto Strada The requalification project aimed at clearly defining the relationships among the different parts that compose th... More

Dynamic and futuristic, Kokaistudios’ latest renovation transforms a twenty-year old shopping mall into a modern lifestyle destination. By breaking up the mall’s boxy silhouette through seemingly floating pixels, the new architecture complements its historic surroundings, opening new vistas and possibilities. Terrence Zhang Kokaistudios’ recently completed architectural renovation project of CITIC SQUARE shopping mall epitomizes Shanghai’s inherent duality. With a futuristic aesthetic combining multimedia elements and some of today’s most sought-after brands, it sits seamlessly alongside one of the city’s best-preserved examples of traditional, historic lane housing. Located in Jingan district on ma... More

A Small Plaza Enclosed with Galleries  Yongjia Road is located in a historical downtown district in Shanghai, with many old residential blocks scattered in its neighborhood. This road is of pleasant scale and luxurious greenery, crowded with small retails. One can sense a strong living atmosphere here. The Pocket Plaza in lane 309 sits in the middle of Yongjia Road. Taking the opportunity of old quarter renovation, Xuhui District Government decided to dismantle two rows of shabby residences with fire hazards and transform the site into a public urban space. Based on observation, we believe that an open plaza with appropriate scale would be most necessary and suitable for this neighborhood. WU Qingshan After demolishing those old... More

canopy close-up night view Building on a solid reputation for urban regeneration and renewal, Kokaistudios recently breathed new life into an overlooked and underused Beijing street. Drawing on design interventions including a network of canopies and increased seating, the project overhauls a neglected district to set a new benchmark for China’s public spaces.  site location Kokaistudios was recently commissioned by property developer CR Land to redesign Galleria-Instreet (Hereinafter referred to as “Instreet”) in central Beijing. Calling for interventions both large and small, the extensive urban renewal project has transformed what was previously an underused, sparse space by injecting all-important human... More

After extensive research and study, Kokaistudios in cooperation with the developer Portman Holdings and master architect John Portman & Associates developed an architectural renovation and restoration strategy that maintained the architectural integrity of the heritage “shikumen” lane houses while tastefully altering the internal layout to allow them to transform them from their original functions as houses into individual guest suites. The extensive restoration project covering both the interiors and the facades of the buildings together with the internal courtyards. The project presented many challenges but armed with a solid experience gained both in Europe and in China of undertaking complex adaptive re-use project and working... More