Marcia Codinachs is a professor of architecture from the Technical University of Catalunya, Spain.

Participating in the international planning for the 2010 World Expo was Marcia's most important project in Shanghai, and he wanted to bring part of the experience he gained from the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona to the 2010 World Expo bid.

In 2001, Marcia and his own studio, Codinachs Nadal & Asociados, were invited by the Shanghai Urban Planning Bureau to make proposals for the planning of the 2010 World Expo, along with six companies from France, Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan and Italy. "The Shanghai municipal government will put our different ideas together. By that time, we will have much work to do," Marcia said, smiling.

According to the planning blueprint for the 2010 World Expo, a major avenue and a moving bridge will cross the Huangpu River, and a cable strung between two huge futuristic buildings will carry people from one side of the Huangpu River to the other.

"The whole Huangpu River is changing. The government is interested in developing the area between Huangpu and Nanpu bridges. In 10 or 15 years, this area will be opened for public services, maybe become a long pedestrian park of Huangpu River," Marcia said, concluding that the Expo site would provide a development example for other areas of Shanghai to follow.

The World Expo offers a very special opportunity to show and sell products, which makes demands upon the commercial capability and culture of the host city. "Shanghai is the doorway to China and its future commercial centre. Every country in the world wants to participate in China's development and China's fortune," Marcia said.

Chinese contacts

"I have been to China 25 times, and seen it changing step by step," Marcia said. To this day, he still regarded his first visit to Shanghai as a stunning experience. Several years ago, one of his friends told him: "You study architecture and city evolution, do you know that Shanghai is changing incredibly fast? Why don't you go there and see what is happening?"

At that time, Marcia knew little about the history of China and Shanghai, so he began his search for Chinese architects, "just hoping they could bring me to China."

The opportunity finally arrived in 1993, when the UIA (International Union of Architects) meeting was held in Chicago. He spent four days looking for the Chinese delegation, but in vain. In the last day of the meeting, he suddenly noticed a big advertisement saying "Meeting with Chinese Architects".

At the meeting, Marcia made a lot of friends, including Professor Zheng Shiling from Shanghai-based Tongji University and architects from the East China Architecture and Design Institute (ECADI). These contacts led to Marcia becoming an exchange professor at Tongji University in 1996.

Staggering change

It was in 1994 that Marcia firstly arrived in Shanghai. "There were no highways and the Pudong district was still empty," he recalled. He nevertheless realized that Shanghai was a special city, with uniquely impressive characteristics. He was impressed, for instance, by the architectural variety and prevalence of foreign styles from the 1920s and 1930s. "There's a special smell and feel to the 1920s. The traditional features of this city still remain and history is walking in the streets."

Marcia saw in Shanghai an impressive example of how a city could acquire distinctiveness by combining modernity with tradition. History, along with social and natural factors, should be taken into consideration when planning urban development, a consciousness increasingly emphasized by the Shanghai municipal government.

From an architectural perspective, Marcia especially likes the skyline of the Lujiazui area. "Jin Mao Tower is the best tower in the world," he said.

The transport situation in Lujiazui is much less successful, however, with vehicles using the Nanpu and Yangpu bridges becomes highly congested in this area, which only has one tunnel. Marcia expects the construction of new bridges to help solve this problem.

Another problem is that, although so many beautiful buildings and major companies occupy Lujiazui, it still suffers from a shortage of recreational amenities. Yet, despite certain regrets about the design of the Lujiazui area, Marcia retained great confidence in the process of Shanghai's urban development. "The new generation of architects and urban designers are better."

Pleasure principle

In addition to his relationship with Tongji University, Marcia has a wider role as a co-ordinator of exchanges between Barcelona and Shanghai. "We plan to arrange for a group of architects, engineers and scientists from both countries to work together."

The most important event for Marcia personally will be the opening of his own studio in Shanghai next year, which will foster further exchanges. Every six months, two young Chinese architects will swap positions with peers in Spain. Some of these will be part of Marcia's own staff.

"What I'm trying to do is introduce Shanghai to Spain while introducing Mediterranean characteristics into the design of this city," he said.

One major characteristic of Mediterranean architecture is its wide open areas, which can have a very positive effect by encouraging people to use and enjoy urban space.

"As architects, we should not design for our own pleasure but for the pleasure of the whole city, for the people who will live in the city, and also the pleasure of investors," Marcia added.

(China Daily December 13, 2002)