Theoretical foundations on liveability at the level of the street in Shanghai

Conditions for liveability are always in change, according to the desires and lifestyles of people that are changing with the context and with time. This paper aims to find out the theoretical meaning of the concept of liveability at the level of the street in contemporary Shanghai. Shanghai is identified as a city in a liminal position between the East and the West, where Western influences merge with the Chinese context. For an inclusive understanding of liveability in Shanghai, several methods have been employed. A systematic review of theoretical implications for liveability in China has been conducted based on documents with ‘liveability’ in title, abstract or key words among several databases. Further on, for a substantiated understanding of the opinions of influential stakeholders in Shanghai, an online liveability survey with architecture and planning professionals, and additional interviews with academics and developers have been carried out.