3.4 Strategies for Reconstruction and Regeneration
3.4.1 Field Survey
This research selected 265 sites of industrial heritage(and national mine parks)that have been reconstructed and regenerated for analysis,with the data sources mainly being CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure),Ministry of Land and Resources,State Administration of Cultural Heritage,and the websites of national and local government entities.110 sites were located in eastern China,which accounted for 41.5% of the sample;57 sites were located in northern China(21.5%);and 10.2% were located in southern China(with an increase in the number of sites in recent years).As for central China,the southwest,northeast and northwest areas,they accounted for just 8.3%,6.0%,5.3% and 4.9% respectively.
Based on the field survey,the types of transformation of industrial heritage sites mainly include those of cultural industry,mine parks,museums,urban public space,business space,offices and residential developments.Among these,cultural industry occupies the largest proportion with 50.9%;mine parks occupy 24.5%;museum,residential development,urban public spaces and others occupy the following position with 13.6%,4.2%,3.4%,and 3.4%.
3.4.2 Dual Principle of Authenticity/Creativity and Case Studies
For institutional reasons,projects of industrial heritage conservation are isolated from wider regeneration efforts in China.However,almost all heritage sites need to be evaluated in terms of either a formulation of conservation plans or architectural design plans,according to the Guidelines for the Formulation of Conservation Planning for Key Cultural Relics Protection Units of China.Other unlisted industrial heritage sites are mainly designed and transformed by architects.According to the survey on 50 reconstructed industrial heritage sites,only eight were evaluated before reconstruction work occurred.(Hao Shuai,Xue Shan,Chen Shuangchen and Du Xin,2012)
To properly address the issue of placing undue emphasis on“museum type”conservation projects or to avoid focusing more on the subjective feeling of designers rather than assessing the value of industrial heritage facilities,this study follows the dual principle of authenticity and creativity.Concerning authenticity,it enables us to discuss approaches towards maintaining the authenticity of heritage sites based on the aspects of spatial design,façade design,structural system design,construction design,and equipment design,among others.(Feng Yuchan,2016)Regarding creativity,the research explored several creative approaches for industrial heritage transformation,including external space reconstruction(e.g.,regeneration and conservation of the façade,restoration of the roof,and the extension of the architectural façade),and interior space reconstruction(e.g.,the function and layout,reinstallation of the interior space of architecture,and the restoration of the interior spaces).(Liu Yu,2016)
3.4.3 Reconstruction and Regeneration Strategy
The aims of heritage reconstruction and regeneration are to guarantee its authenticity as well as to enable design creativity.According to the current situation in China,to achieve the proper balance of authenticity and creativity,it is best to avoid typical museum-style protection attitudes with the mere consideration of intrinsic value,and conversely to avoid excessive creative design without taking authenticity and integrity into account.(https://www.daowen.com)
In the case of Jinling Art Museum of Nanjing,the intrinsic value of the original building does not lie specifically with its status as designated heritage,and highlighting the features of the new building is more common.It was originally the Nanjing Color Weaving Factory,built in the 1960s and 1970s,and is located south of Nanjing,a district renowned for its history.Because the factory itself is not a cultural relic,the architect made radical transformations to its form in 2011,giving it a stronger visual impact.
In the case of the west wall of the Warehouse of Four Banks(四行仓库)in Shanghai,the building's status as designated heritage becomes the main target for protection,and stricter efforts are expended to safeguard its authenticity.Within the studied examples of the transformation of industrial heritage,its protection approaches the extremes of authenticity protection.The Warehouse of Four Banks was jointly built in 1931 by the Jin Cheng Bank,Central and Southern Bank,Continental Bank,and the Salt Bank.In 1937,there was continuous resistance against the advances of the Japanese army for four days and nights,resulting in several bullet holes in the west wall of the warehouse.The warehouse was designated as an outstanding historical building in Shanghai in 1994.It was transformed into a Creative Industrial Park in 2003 and classified as a cultural relics protection unit in 2014.To commemorate the resistance efforts against the Japanese army,the authenticity of the west wall of the warehouse was completely preserved in the reform design.
The 1933 Old Millfun(上海老场坊)in Shanghai is also a good example of how to respectfully maintain the authenticity of the original building.The original building is a slaughterhouse,and it is representative of early reinforced concrete buildings in Shanghai.The concrete structure and diversified spaces are its outstanding features.The transformation work basically respected the intrinsic value of the original building.The building is used for business activities and houses various eateries.
At present,the focus of the cultural and creative industrial parks is to drive the local economy rather than emphasize the creative design of its architecture,most were designed by the artists who rented the building rather than architects.For example,Redtory(红专厂)in Guangzhou,previously a canning factory,is now used as office space but lacks a creative building design.Another reason for this insufficiency in its creative design is that local property policies are unstable.
Other industrial buildings are devoid of intrinsic value.However,there is a large number of industrial buildings that have not yet been exploited;they may hold potential value for development,once a proper assessment is conducted.A significant transformation may take place after a well-considered transformation design is implemented.
The balance of authenticity and creativity is the key to the adaptive reuse design of industrial heritage.The brick tile factory in the town of Jinxi,Jiangsu Province(锦溪镇祝家甸村砖瓦厂)stands as a meaningful example of protection schemes concerned with both authenticity and creativity.The factory once produced“gold brick”—a kind of high-quality brick for the Forbidden City.The factory used a German Hoffman kiln in modern times but was abandoned in the 1980s.At present,it represents the intangible cultural heritage of Jiangsu Province.In the spirit of respecting its heritage,the designer protected the integrity of the Hoffman kiln and chimney.The first story serves as a restaurant,and the second as an Ancient Kiln Museum.To strengthen the original structure,the designer interspersed a steel structure throughout the old building's roof and built a steel staircase covering the original brick stairs.The new features were inserted into the old factory.The resulting new structure strives to achieve a minimum level of intervention.This design not only protects the original brick structure,but also showcases a modern sensibility.
How does the architect ensure the authenticity of the design?This research references the“The Sourcebook of Architecture”(third edition,first draft),which supplements the procedure of heritage conservation in the 8th volume of the sourcebook with the design process of historical architecture.According to the author's revision,it is clear that the value assessment process should be a priority to avoid damage to any heritage value while having the maximum possible creative design—this represents the best state of adaptive reuse.It suggests that the value assessment process should be further supplemented during the review procedure by the administration in charge of monitoring the facility.