Sophie Plottel
Sophie Plottel, a former GSP blogger, is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a minor concentration in Global Development Studies. A native of Vancouver, Canada, she is interested in the continuing efforts of cities to adapt their policies and development strategies in response to climate change. Currently pursuing a master's of science in planning at the University of Toronto, she is studying the policies of sustainable urban development in emerging cities. After living in Shanghai, China for a year, she has became actively involved in Shanghai’s emerging environmental movement and enjoyed exploring the city's vibrant and diverse streetscape.
Shanghai’s Yongkang Lu: Gentrification and Tension
by Sophie Plottel
Strolling down a quaint street on a bright, spring afternoon, passing an international array of bakeries, small bars and cafes, you might think you had been transported to a quiet Parisian street. Instead, Yongkang Lu, l... Read article
Shanghai Metro: No Signs of Slowing Down
by Sophie Plottel
For a city whose population has almost doubled in the past 20 years, Shanghai’s transportation system is remarkably up to date. Shanghai boasts one of the most comprehensive and fastest growing metro systems in the wor... Read article
The Weight of Development: Could Shanghai Be Sinking?
by Sophie Plottel
Shanghai’s economy is rapidly growing, but the city itself may be sinking. Reports of cracks in the sidewalks and streets in recent years have left residents and city officials worried about the future of such a dense ci... Read article
One City, Nine Towns: Shanghai's Western Suburbs
by Sophie Plottel
Over a decade ago, as the population of Shanghai soared, density was at an all time high and Chinese urban planners, realizing the city’s growth was unsustainable, they proposed a new solution to the problem: decentraliz... Read article
Shanghai’s Jiashan Market: A Model for Community Based Development?
by Sophie Plottel
In a city of over 20 million people, with about 3500 people living in each square kilometre, finding a space that provides an intimate sense of community may seem next to impossible. Within this urban maze, however, exis... Read article
Dashed Dreams of an Eco-City: The Failure of Dongtan Eco-City on Chongming Island, China
by Sophie Plottel
What was supposed to have been a perfect model of eco-design has come up rather short as plans for Dongtan, an eco-city on Chongming Island, have since disappeared. Located just 25km from Shanghai, the sustainably design... Read article
Cycling in the City: A Bike-Friendly Future on the Way for Shanghai, China?
by Sophie Plottel
With pollution and traffic problems at all-time highs in Chinese cities, some are taking up cycling as a sustainable alternative. The burgeoning environmental movement, convenient urban transportation system, and the co... Read article
Creative Space in the City: Shanghai, China’s M50 Art District
by Sophie Plottel
In rapidly developing and changing cities, creative spaces are often given low priority compared with other more lucrative ventures. In Shanghai, the art district of M50 has become an international creative cluster ove... Read article
Waterfront Development in Shanghai: The Bund
by Sophie Plottel
For many urbanites, putting up with occasional construction is accepted as an unfortunate aspect of city living. In a rapidly developing city like Shanghai, however, it never stops. The construction of an ambitious r... Read article
Urban Farming Growing in Shanghai, China
by Sophie Plottel
After years of relentless growth, Shanghai, China is entering a new phase of environmentally sustainable development. Issues such as urban farming have become hot topics of discussion. Ever-increasing urban density, comp... Read article
Up and Down in Hong Kong: The Mid-Levels Escalator Systems
by Sophie Plottel
With increasing urban density, cities are being forced to find sustainable alternative solutions to problems of transportation in urban centers. In cities like Hong Kong, where urban density remains a major issue, ... Read article
Preserving History in Shanghai's Former French Concession
by Sophie Plottel
In the middle of one of the busiest and fastest growing cities, lies Shanghai’s former French Concession. With tree-lined avenues, small cafes, boutique shops, parks, and quiet residential streets, the area is ma... Read article
Development and Displacement in Shanghai’s Xintiandi District
by Sophie Plottel
Xintiandi was once a quiet residential neighbourhood located in a rapidly developing inner city district in Shanghai, China. Between 1999 and 2001, however, the area underwent a massive redevelopment project. It involved... Read article