朱怡然
ZHU Yiran
‘Learning city’ workshop is not your traditional urban design class-- it's something different. Chinese students have participated in projects in campus, however, these experiences have disadvantages which limit ‘bottom-up’ criticize in design. Students may just obey to the demand of governments or developers. I suppose cooperation with German students help us rethink what the essence of urban planning or urban design is--design which rooted in concern and demand of people.
I suppose the most interesting part is field work in Changzhou. Chinese and German students observe things in different views, for example, German students consider farming in the city as an amazing talent of Chinese people, while Chinese students see this as a normal situation.
The communication between local people is also interesting. Local people are all very warm-hearted and kind, which enables us acquire first-hand information in Wujin, Changzhou.
I suppose more time should be given for Chinese and German students. It is a tough task for German students to observe true society in China, while it also helps Chinese students to learn their own country.