In line with the current five year government plan commitment to improve social infrastructure and social safety nets, assisting disadvantaged groups within the city, "The Nest" was created in 2009 as a platform for collaboration and promoting the development of social entrepreneurs in Shanghai.

With the support of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, The Nest pilot program was initiated by Shanghai NPI Social Innovation Development Centre (NPI), a local non-profit organization supporting the development of grassroots non-government organizations and social enterprises in China. The Nest pilot program was established with the specific goal of enabling the rapid growth of like-minded social enterprises in China, mobilizing communities and resources with a common passion for social, personal and environmental change in an open dialogue environment.

Over the 3 year period "The Nest" proved to be so successful at helping small social enterprises scale up and generate job training and employment opportunities for the physically and mentally challenged that today, The Nest has expanded to a larger location: Gongyi Xintiandi and is now 10 times bigger, with wider reach and greater social impact.

The Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau has invested in the regeneration of the historical Gongyi Xintiandi location, which began life as an orphanage at the end of the Qing dynasty and includes several buildings partially built from bricks salvaged from the ancient Shanghai City Wall demolished in 1911.
Watershed, a newly established international design firm located in Shanghai, partnered with NPI by assisting the Civil Affairs Bureau to create a concept and develop the schematic landscape design, to achieve a meaningful difference in the lives of the social entrepreneurs and those citizens they serve within the local community.
 

In creating a space that would cater to the specific needs of the many unique and diverse user groups, Watershed has fostered to create spaces that are both functional and aesthetically unique in relation to the existing site features. Spaces vary from breakout food and beverage space, to a central plaza, reception areas, to multi-use courts and community gardens, all designed to meet international accessibility standards using a contemporary design language.

Watershed is particularly interested in the perspective that emphasizes social environment as a catalyst for social transformation. This vision asserts that in the twenty-first century the creation of built environments requires: design approaches of real-world relevance, stressing technical, ecological, economic, social, cultural, aesthetic, and ethical concerns; an interdisciplinary culture of individuals who are not only experts in one of the core designing and planning disciplines, but experts in the sciences, humanities, arts, and other professions; and a spirit of service to diverse communities which promotes ecological and social sustainability.
 

The project is currently under construction and is due to open by early 2014

Client: Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau Type: Non-profit / Commercial Year: 2012 Location: Shanghai, China Type: Non-profit / Commercial Size : 15,700 sqm  Partners: NPI, Social Design Studio and Greenspace