Guangzhou's Majestic Axis. The Political Reinvention of Urban Form

The chapter investigates the development of Zhujiang New Town as Guangzhou’s new central business district and central axis. The authors discuss how the creation of this megaproject reveals the tension between grand narratives and the practical construction processes. The effectiveness of the central axis lies in its ability to bring about tangible transformation despite unexpected events and, the authors argue, the materiality of megaprojects connects material elements and shapes aspirations and expectations through social practices. The discussion of the new city development axis, designed to propel urban development and stimulate investments, highlights the experimental process of megaprojects linking China’s leading global and nationwide cities through design and construction practices. Further, authors discuss how spatial design acted in this case as an element of negotiation during the controversies between residents and the government, projecting a vision for the future in which political stances were traded with material compensations.