In the easternmost embankment of shanghai's eastern qingpu district is a new town characterized by large, straight roads, and a rigid planning grid. local firm atelier deshaus sought to elevate the orthogonal planning restrictions by employing selective color and translucent paneling in their design for'qingpu youth center.' the architects took on the humanizing power of scale in their project geared toward adolescent activity, positing that a building can behave like a small city, complete with careful avenues and areas of quiet dynamism. the small-scale spaces of traditional towns, long obliterated, retroactively return to the complex-- all linked by outdoor courtyards and squares. this aggregation of built forms is in dialogue with the memories of the surrounding towns and rivers. ponds and manicured gardens connect spaces and rely on the curious, exuberant personalities of its users. the urbanization of suburbs finds a elegant model in the youth center and proves that buildings can be both traditionalin scale and grandiose in affect.