In modern urban development, a community is more than just a collection of physical spaces—it serves as a platform for culture, art, commerce, and social interactions. A truly dynamic and innovative community seamlessly blends nature with urban life, business with social engagement, allowing people to explore freely, interact meaningfully, and create their ideal way of living.
Chengdu’s Luxelakes CPI Cultural Community and Xiàngzǐlǐ are two prime examples of this concept in action. The former builds a garden-style commercial cluster in an emerging urban area, pioneering the fusion of new retail with cultural and artistic experiences. The latter focuses on cultural revitalization within old alleyways, breathing new life into historical spaces through creative spatial transformation. Together, they redefine the possibilities of future communities—where commerce is no longer just about transactions but serves as a bridge connecting people with each other, with culture, and with nature.
A Garden-Style Commercial Cluster Redefining Urban Living
Beyond the concrete and steel of the city, the Luxelakes CPI Cultural Community offers a unique “garden-style” commercial cluster. Unlike traditional shopping centers, this space blurs the boundaries between commerce and community, featuring standalone buildings that integrate fashion retail, art exhibitions, dining and bar experiences, boutique stores, and outdoor activities. This diverse mix creates an immersive urban lifestyle experience.
A New Hub for Trendsetting Lifestyles
More than just a commercial space, the community is a dynamic, co-evolving environment that fosters innovation and interaction. By deeply integrating cultural arts with an outdoor, active lifestyle, it offers more than just products—it invites people to co-create a way of life.
A Constantly Evolving Marketplace: Like a Lifestyle Magazine That’s Always Fresh
Rather than following traditional leasing models, Luxelakes CPI Cultural Community empowers brand founders to act as "editors," curating experiences in collaboration with the community. This approach ensures the space remains fresh and vibrant, unveiling new themes and experiences each month to attract urban professionals who seek high-quality living.
A Collective Vision: 60+ Brands Shaping the Future of Lifestyle
With over 60 independent domestic and international brands, this space is a hub for pioneering lifestyle experiences. It hosts the largest Snow Peak flagship store in Southwest China, SND’s biggest flagship store, the artisanal Bake No Title bakery, and many more. Each brand contributes to a collective vision of exploring and shaping the future of modern living.
Cultural Revitalization: A Collaborative Community Experiment in Historic Alleyways
If Luxelakes CPI represents the exploration of emerging urban spaces, then Xiàngzǐlǐ is a cultural revitalization experiment set within the historic streets of the city.
🏡 Spatial Transformation of Old Alleys: Creating New Public Interaction Spaces
Through thoughtful renovations, Xiàngzǐlǐ transcends the traditional concept of a commercial street. Instead, it becomes a dynamic public space that integrates leisure, social interaction, and art—fostering deeper connections within the community.
🎭 The Fusion of Culture and Commerce: Crafting a Unique Local Experience
Beyond serving as a venue for art exhibitions, Xiàngzǐlǐ is also a hub for artisanal crafts, creative retail, and culinary culture. Regular cultural events breathe new life into the community, allowing local traditions to be preserved and reinterpreted, and enabling residents to immerse themselves in the city’s cultural fabric.
👥 Community Interaction: Enabling Co-Creation Among Residents
Designed as an open and inclusive social space, Xiàngzǐlǐ encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to interact, collaborate, and create together—enhancing the vibrancy and inclusivity of the community.
🛋 Thoughtfully Designed Spaces with Warmth and Accessibility
Inspired by the Japanese concept of engawa (veranda) and the Chinese měi rén kào (traditional leaning bench), Xiàngzǐlǐ prioritizes human interaction within its spatial design. Raised seating areas naturally encourage gatherings while also improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities, ensuring that their presence feels seamlessly integrated rather than singled out.
Future Trends: How Innovative Communities Define Urban Culture
At first glance, CPI Cultural Community and Xiàngzǐlǐ exist in contrasting urban environments—one is a newly developed nature-integrated commercial cluster, while the other is a revitalization project within historic alleyways. However, both share a common vision: how can commercial spaces become carriers of culture, and how can communities foster deeper human connections?
🏙 Blending Old and New: Bridging the Past and the Future
Whether it's CPI’s creation of a cultural-commercial cluster in a new urban district or Xiàngzǐlǐ’s transformation of historic alleyways, both projects strive to break conventional urban boundaries. They introduce diverse and engaging social spaces that bring warmth and authenticity to modern city life.
📖 Community Co-Creation: Turning Consumers into Lifestyle Participants
The future of communities goes beyond traditional commercial spaces—they will become open experimental grounds where residents, businesses, brands, and artists collaborate to shape new ways of living.
🌱 Integrating Nature and Urban Life: A Greener, More Sustainable Vision
From green architecture and garden-style commercial spaces to barrier-free design and shared spaces, these emerging trends are redefining our vision for the cities of tomorrow.
CPI Cultural Community serves as a testbed for future urban lifestyles, while Xiàngzǐlǐ stands as a model for cultural revitalization in historic neighborhoods. Together, they form a more vibrant, innovative, and inclusive urban community—strengthening the relationships between people, spaces, culture, and society.
An innovative community is more than just a space; it is a vision for the future of urban living.