Shanghai student idea of fragmented yet linked architecture goes on show
Architecture can be fragmented yet interconnected. That is the idea behind new student research put on show by Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China.
The London-based design publication Dezeen published the university's SchoolShows feature on 13 October 2026. The article presents projects in architecture and spatial systems. Dezeen
Among the featured work is research that describes architecture as "fragmented yet interconnected". The phrase sticks. In plain language, it points to buildings and spaces that come in separate parts but still join up.
SchoolShows is Dezeen's format for sharing student work directly from schools. Readers get a quick look at what students are drawing, modelling and testing. No prior training is needed to follow along.
The showcase also gives context for where the work comes from. Shanghai Jiao Tong University has built long-running links beyond China. Its German Center was set up in the 1980s to support German language teaching and exchanges with Germany. Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The brief later widened. Under its 'Global SJTU' initiative, the Center refocused around making connections, supporting joint innovation, linking with wider university projects and acting as a regional hub for outreach.
In 2023, the Center opened a Munich branch with teaching and logistical support facilities. It also acts as the secretariat for the Ministry of Education's Sino-German Innovation Consortium for Industry, Academia, and Applied Research, a body that brings universities and industry together.
Another arm is the SJTU Asia-Pacific Graduate Institute, known as SJTU-APGI. The university describes it as an extension of its education and research work. Its stated aim is to integrate overseas resources and support internationalisation.
The overall goal for SJTU-APGI is to promote system innovation and resource integration to open new global prospects in education and research.
What makes this stand out for general readers is the access. You do not need to visit Shanghai or enrol in architecture school. The projects are presented online, in one place, ready to scroll.
