Rural-urban Chinese migration and an architectural investigation of urban village in Shenzhen

The growth and transformation of China’s cities since the 1980s led to a massive population movement, which created a new spatial type of informal settlement—the “Urban Village.” This paper delivers an historical review of literature regarding the formation of the urban village in respect to the background of urban-rural land policy. In addition, the evolution of the urban village in China is studied from an architectural perspective. Therefore, this research is about urban architecture and informal spatial practices in contemporary China, particularly the built forms and spaces in Baishizhou urban village, which expanded due to internal migration from other Chinese cities to Shenzhen. In the end, the topic is discussed in relation to migrants’ right to dwell in peace in the host city (UN, 1948). This research accordingly aims to examine new ways of conceptualising Chinese spaces and to explore theoretical and practical guidance for future urban and architectural design and policymaking.