Starry Street Wuhou and the Architecture of Shared Life

Completed at the end of 2020, Starry Street Wuhou in Chengdu introduces a layered urban model that blends residential life, commerce, and community activity into one continuous spatial experience. Designed by CLOU architects, the project responds to the pressures of dense urban growth by proposing a three-body spatial system that encourages coexistence rather than competition between programs.

Urban Context and Three-Body Logic

Located in Wuhou District at the intersection of major roads and metro lines, Starry Street occupies a strategic position between residential neighborhoods, offices, and industrial parks. Instead of isolating functions into separate zones, CLOU architects organize the project as an interwoven system of living, retail, and social spaces stacked vertically and connected horizontally. This approach transforms infrastructure into an active participant in daily urban life.

Retail as Urban Ground Plane

The first two levels are dedicated to retail, forming a vibrant and permeable ground plane. Rather than a typical enclosed mall or canyon-like commercial street, the retail areas are punctuated by open courtyards, landscaped steps, and visual corridors. These elements ensure daylight penetration and airflow while maintaining commercial viability without overwhelming the residential zones above.

Residential and Social Integration

Above the retail layers, residential units and SOHO apartments are carefully positioned to maintain privacy while remaining visually connected to public life. Windows face open streets and shared courtyards, avoiding the sense of enclosure often found in high-density developments. Acoustic and lighting buffers mitigate interference from commercial activities, allowing mixed-use density to function without friction.

Public Space as Social Infrastructure

Public programs are distributed across multiple levels, including sunken plazas, rooftop sports facilities, urban farms, and cultural venues. The north and south blocks are linked by a continuous circulation system that connects cinemas, performance spaces, gyms, and outdoor courts. These spaces are not decorative extras; they operate as social infrastructure that supports daily interaction, physical activity, and community identity.

By treating architecture as a framework for shared urban life rather than a collection of isolated objects, CLOU architects demonstrate how large-scale mixed-use developments can remain humane, adaptable, and socially productive. Starry Street Wuhou stands as a reminder that density does not have to mean compromise when spatial systems are designed to work together.