Urban Building Control

The achievement of international settlement of modern Shanghai in its one-century history since 1845 is a significant phase of Shanghai's development, during which continuous and efficient building control was a chief guarantee that pushed the process forward. This dissertation focuses on Building Laws of international settlement of modern Shanghai. The topic is approached by means of sociological study and by comparison that reveal the origin of Building Laws and the impact of them on urban development and thus the evolution of these Building Laws is rediscovered and their influence on urban space is re-evaluated. Starting with close study of Building Laws, an evidence of building control in the area, the writer attempts to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the historical background, stimulus, the relation of the social groups with different interests, and the impact of these laws. By referring to the political background as well as economical transformation in the settlement, the technology progress, and continuous influence of Building Laws in modern European and American cities, the study of building control in the settlement helps reveal the diversity of value judgment of various groups in different periods, while issuing regulations, and sum up experience as well as wisdom in governmental operation then. The arguments on building control in Shanghai urban space evolution and on regulating various interest groups in urban construction could serve as a reference for urban space development in today's Shanghai.This thesis consists of eight chapters not including Introduction or Conclusion. The Introduction presents the research background, focus issues, and research methods, and makes definition of the keywords. Chapter One is a comprehensive analysis of building control and its evolution in international settlement of modern Shanghai. The following four chapters are arguments on evolution of Building Laws in the settlement in different periods. Chapter Six is a case study of regulation on height of buildings. Chapter Seven deals with architect registration system in the international settlement. Chapter Eight makes a comparison between contemporary Building Laws in modern European and American cities, in districts governed by Chinese authorities and in the international settlement so as to reveal the origin of Building Laws in the settlement and discover impact of them. The Conclusion points out what we could learn from building control in international settlement of modern Shanghai.