While Shanghai's industrial history often highlights factories as crucial symbols of the city's development, another facet exists, the 'other Shanghai', represented by spontaneous settlements and their residents. Despite their close ties to the workers' movement, this aspect remains largely absent in the professional history of architecture. Nevertheless, it stands as an integral driving force behind Shanghai's industrial prosperity and merits recognition and preservation.

Through the study of the spontaneous settlement of Dinghaiqiao, this project attempts to reveal the interdependence and companionship between factories and spontaneous settlements. It also sheds light on the self-sufficient community spirit and culture of the Dinghaiqiao community, as well as the unique lifestyles that have developed in response to the longstanding deficiencies in public facilities. Building upon this study, the planning of the Dinghaiqiao community seeks to reorganise the relationship between spontaneous settlements and factories in the new era, preserving its community culture and way of life.