Aiwan: A Gathering Place Part 1 Project 2024 Dilikeremu Duolikun University of Nottingham Ningbo | China The Aiwan serves as an expository to the current yearning for local roots and real experience within Shanghai, an active, fast-paced, vibrant city.Emboldened by the historical and culturally rich context of the site, an area bounded by the French Quarter, Xin Hua Road and Xinfu Road, the project draws inspiration from my roots as a Uyghur from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region of China. The concept taps into the intricate tapestry of Uyghur traditions with the project, emphasizing the Aiwan as an inclusive space to gather, to celebrate traditions, and a mark of the enduring spirit of a new pedigree within the larger context of a nearly homogeneous nation.Using the power of place, the project aspires to seamlessly blend traditions with modern sensibilities, inviting all to partake in cultural discovery, understanding differences and forging bonds, in a process that transcends language and geo-political borders. Tutor(s) Giaime Botti Yat-Ming Loo Yimeng Wang Kathy Zhang