  The project attempts to examine the new urban spaces and places that have emerged in post 1992 Shanghai. Due to economic structural reforms initiated in 1978 and 1992 respectively, the city’s semi-colonial landscape has changed radically. The Shanghai landscape has experienced an explosive development and renewal in its infrastructure and built environment.
Simultaneously, new urban identities have been constructed. As a point of departure, the study deals with questions concerning urban change, “negotiations of place” and new urban identities. The aim of the project is twofold. Firstly, I’m seeking to understand how the cultural changes are present and manifested in built environment. To describe the changes in built environment it is crucial to apply a historic-sociological perspective. Significant themes are the preservation of the buildings built by British, French and Americans colonizers in 19th and 20th century, the destruction of old neighbourhoods and the relocation of citizens to different parts of the city.
Significantly, the study deals with the issue of cultural identity in contemporary Shanghainese architecture. How are the old colonial buildings reused and renewed in 21st century Shanghai? Furthermore, Shanghai Municipal Government and Shanghai Urban Planning Commitee play key roles in the development of the city. Therefore is the material published by these two controlling bodies important to examine. Secondly, the project attempts to analyse young citizens’ (20s-30s) orientation in and experiences of the new spaces and places.
New markers of “gender” (norms, values, customs), “class” (an arising middle class) and “ethnicity” (the rural-urban divide) have been formulated. A generational perspective will give the analysis a strength. What do the eldery think of the new Shanghai? Moreover, shopping malls, bars, restored old houses, restaurants, cinemas, clubs and concert halls are part of the new urban landscape that has emerged. What are these spaces and places like, and how do the young citizens act in them? How can the analysis be related to Shanghainese history and theories on negotiations of place? Specifically, I’m striving to examine how the young citizens perceive their Shanghainese tradition, and how they construct their identities in this new urban landscape. Methodologically, the project will make use of participant observation, textual analysis of official materials, interviews with young citizens, eldery, personnel and managers at several bars, boutiques, restaurants and clubs.
I’m also attempting to interview the staff at Shanghai Municipal Government and Shanghai Urban Planning Committee since these bodies are the ones that determine what is going to happen with the city. Keywords: Shanghai, urban change, new identities, cultural globalisation, negotiations of place, place promotion, new places and spaces, economic structural reforms, Chineseness 
