About

Cheng Chen is a spatial practitioner and sound visualization artist who combines her expertise in architecture, landscape, and urban design to create interactive and immersive experiences. With a unique understanding of how space, sound, visuals, and narrative intertwine, Cheng constructs engaging environments that invite audiences to explore thought-provoking worlds. Drawing inspiration from the nature, architecture, and sensations, her work transcends conventional spatial practice boundaries, aiming to cultivate healing, self-reflection, and emotional resonance through a synthesis of diverse creative components.

Education

  • Royal College of Art:  City Design 2023-2024
  • University of Pennsylvania:  AAD Advanced Architecture Design 2022
  • East China University of Science & Technology:  Landscape Architecture 2019-2023

Contact: chencheng001112@outlook.com

 

Independent Research Project

Afropolis:A Dream Town or A Forsaken Castle?

The interplay between globalization and migration policies is often reflected in the processes of formation and evolution of migrant communities, of which the urban fabric is a tangible manifestation. Chinatown is such a historical precedent linked to Chinese labor export in the 1850s. Similarly, the African community in Guangzhou exemplifies the dynamic interaction between contemporary migration and urban space in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. However, it has gradually transformed from a dream town in the 1990s to a forsaken castle nowadays.

These cases highlight how migration policies shape the pattern of urban space and how migrant communities adapt and create living spaces in the face of the challenges of policy frameworks. With the comparison of China’s shifting roles in the globalization context in the 1850s and nowadays, the project reveals the powerful role of migration and globalization in shaping the character and identity of urban spaces. This comparison underscores embracing different cultural influences to build inclusive, equitable, and culturally rich cities.

Keywords: trade globalization, migration policy, migrant communities, urban atmosphere, Chinatown, Guangzhou, Africa

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