Most people look for the most popular landmarks or seek out local cuisine when they travel. But Baoshan Han, Vice President of Design and Planning for Kylli, heads for the public transportation to see how efficient it is. In fact, this love of cities that work better is what drew him to Kylli and the Mission Point project three-and-a-half-years ago.
Prior to joining Kylli, Baoshan had 30 years of professional experience spanning urban planning and design to commercial and residential architectural design and development. This wide array of experiences has informed his perspective on what constitutes good urban planning and what we should expect from our cities.
Q: Tell us about your background and what let you to join the commercial real estate industry.
A: I studied architecture at Tsinghua University, one of the best architectural schools in China. After I graduated, I spent six years in China teaching design studio and practicing urban planning and design, then moved to the U.S. and studied architecture at the University of Cincinnati and Georgia Tech.
While I was studying at Georgia Tech, I was lucky to have an advisor who was focused on livable cities history and theory and introduced me to the concept of mixed-use urban development, which is how towns were originally built prior to categorizing land via zoning, such as residential zones, industrial zones, office zones, retail zones, and more.
I spent over 20 years working on various projects and urban design and residential development. During this time, I observed that due to the availability of inexpensive land, urban sprawl was inevitable. People were pushed farther from the city center, even as business and job opportunities remained concentrated in the urban core.
Now, as urban challenges like traffic congestion intensify, people are turning to European and Asian cities for insights on implementing mixed-use development models. These cities are known for seamlessly integrating public transportation systems that minimize reliance on cars, among other advantages, providing valuable guidance for improving urban planning—an area I’m particularly passionate about. I enjoy traveling to cities abroad to observe their models firsthand and have become increasingly focused on how we can enhance public transportation by embracing a mixed-use approach that incorporates bicycles and other modes of transit.
This also led me to believe that it’s the right time to move forward with a development like Mission Point. Here in the heart of Silicon Valley, we have the opportunity to convert an underutilized parking lot and a site formerly zoned for light industrial, into a true mixed-use area that offers housing, work space, parks and open spaces, neighborhood serving retail and amenities.
Q: What trends you are seeing in the industry?
A: One clear trend in urban development is the shift toward higher-density projects. While it may seem counterintuitive, increased density has several positive effects, including on transportation. For example, Mission Point is located near public transit, but ridership has historically been low due to insufficient population density to justify more frequent service. VTA recognizes the benefits our development will bring and has expressed support for the project, knowing that the influx of new riders will enable them to either expand the line or increase train frequency. A strong model for this can be seen in Asian cities, where public transit options like buses and subways are an integral part of daily life, reducing the reliance on cars.
The second trend is mixed-use development, as we’ve previously discussed. A prime example of this concept in action can be seen in corporate headquarters like Google and Apple. While these buildings may appear to be typical office complexes from the outside, they are designed with a wide range of amenities inside, including gyms, cafeterias, entertainment centers, and park-like landscapes, allowing employees to enjoy these features without the need to drive elsewhere. This approach represents a major shift from traditional industrial office zoning, revolutionizing how workspaces are designed and utilized.
With that said, when the workday ends, these vast parking lots sit empty, and even during the day, they’re primarily occupied by single-use cars—a significant waste of space. In the future, we’ll likely see a shift toward shared parking concepts, where lots are used by office workers during the day and by local residents in the evening. This more efficient use of space is essential as urban areas grow denser.
A third trend, particularly in the Bay Area, is the growing emphasis on designs that take full advantage of our beautiful year-round weather. By focusing on creating spaces that allow people to enjoy more time outdoors, we can blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors through architectural elements like balconies, terraces, and rooftops. This is what we’re planning at Mission Point, where these features would seamlessly integrate the outdoor environment with the working and living spaces, enhancing the overall experience of the office workers and residents.
Q: And what does excite you the most about the Mission Point project?
A: I’ve been very impressed by how helpful the local residents and local grassroots organizations are. Even though we have organized community outreach, we still have people stopping by to visit and ask questions. And we have other organizations like Housing Action Coalition and Catalyze SV that are supporting us tremendously by scoring our project and giving us feedback based on sustainability.
This growing interest reassures us that we’re on the right track and fostering a stronger connection with the community. For example, during our initial community meetings, residents expressed concerns about the limited dining options and the absence of essential amenities like childcare and a grocery store, which we are planning to provide. Mission Point embodies the true essence of mixed-use design and the vision we’re striving to achieve: a place where you can live, work, play, and shop—all in one vibrant, accessible community.
What’s also exciting is that it’s walkable and bikeable. I started riding my bike the 11 miles to work myself, and it’s very enjoyable. We’re working with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and getting lots of great advice about how to set up bike lanes for different speeds and offer safe spaces for stowing them when the rider arrives at their destination.
Q: What do you like to do during your spare time?
A: I enjoy traveling and painting—and often painting while I travel. While I’m open to visiting anywhere in the world, I tend to choose destinations known as the “Most Livable Cities.” I’m compiling a personal ranking, and so far, top scorers include Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, as well as cities in northern European countries like Denmark and Finland. Although I enjoy touring these places, my main interest is experiencing how well their bus and subway systems function.
And as I mentioned, I like riding bicycles, and since I like to visit places with my wife, we bought a tandem bike to go with my regular bike and e-bike. It’s the best way to get around, and I am excited for people at Mission Point to discover that as well!