Hong’anli is an urban renewal practice located in the 17th neighborhood plot of Hongkou District, an area designated for historical and cultural preservation in Shanghai. The site is intersected by the underground Metro Line 10. The design prioritizes retaining historical authenticity while adapting to contemporary lifestyles, resulting in a vibrant lane-style community that embraces the aesthetic of traditional Shikumen residences.

The site features a collection of lane-style houses representing various types of Shikumen architecture from different historical periods. Three primary and multiple secondary lanes define the overall spatial configuration. Following the existing layout, the design adheres to three guiding principles to ensure the preservation of the vernacular character: 1) maintaining the overall configuration of the three primary north-south lanes and multiple smaller east-west lanes; 2) retaining the existing fabric predominantly composed of lane-style residences; 3) upholding the characteristic of "multi-clusters within one integral neighborhood.” These strategies serve as the foundation for the subdivision of land in Hong’anli, allowing new constructions to blend in seamlessly with the historical context.

Before restoration and construction, the existing structures were evaluated and assessed thoroughly. The historically significant Heleli South Two Alleys were preserved in place. Regarding the western street-front gable walls of Heleli North Six Alleys and Baoxingli, and the eastern archway of Heleli North Six Alleys, the roofs were rebuilt, and the remaining plain brick walls were repaired. The degraded moldings on the east facade were restored according to the well-preserved sections. Extensive on-site surveys and research were conducted for other historical structures to ensure that new structures aligned with the original architectural style and maintained the intricate details.

According to on-site environmental vibration testing and structural vibration reduction analysis, a comprehensive steel spring vibration isolator system was installed in all functional rooms to minimize the impact of the underground metro rumble on the upper structures. Steel spring floating floors were also installed in specific parking areas and driveways to dampen structural base vibrations effectively.