MINI LIVING is a global network of urban living spaces inspired by the original design principle behind the first MINI: creative use of space. As MINI LIVING prepares to open the doors of its first co-living hub in Shanghai, Dazed has partnered with MINI LIVING to explore the spaces, places and faces of the city.

It’s official: city life really is getting busier. 55 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, according to the UN. This figure is expected to increase to 68 percent by 2050.

Cities have long been crowded. Which is one of the reasons why, in 1959, the diminutively-sized MINI was built to meet the demands of city life. Now, after years of research projects, the car manufacturer is taking its original design ethos – a “creative use of space" – and reapplying it.

MINI LIVING is a soon-to-open network of permanent living spaces in major cities around the world. The first to open will be in Shanghai, where MINI LIVING is taking over the city's oldest paint factory in the district of Jing’An.

The MINI design philosophy will shape the way that residents live, work and interact in the co-living hub – from MINI-designed, fully-serviced apartments to exhibitions curated by the brand's creative design space A/D/O. There will be co-working spaces, concept stores, restaurants from local chefs, a little cinema and rooftops with panoramic views of the neighbourhood. And, obviously, a fleet of MINIs for residents to explore the city streets and beyond.

Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be going behind the scenes at MINI LIVING ahead of the official opening in Shanghai next year by taking you on a tour of the city through the eyes of locals: MINI Vendors and the Dazed community including Dazed China’s Style Director Mia Kong, fashion label Short Sentence and Shanghainese filmmaker Roni Shao, who cut his teeth working at Nowness.

First up, we’ll head to Jing’An. Watch this space.

This is MINI LIVING. Stay open.