Industrial Heritage Protection and Sustainable Development in the Context of High-Density Urban Environment

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 7024

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
Interests: landscape architecture; industrial heritage protection; urban planning; spatial distribution; cultural heritage protection

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Guest Editor
College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Interests: urban ecology; landscape architecture; garden plant

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue delves into safeguarding industrial heritage and its role in fostering sustainable development within high-density urban environments. It explores strategies for conserving historic industrial sites while ensuring their compatibility with modern urban landscapes. By considering their cultural significance and environmental implications, this Special Issue aims to strike a harmonious balance between economic growth, heritage preservation, and urban livability. The findings presented within this Special Issue offer valuable insights into effectively leveraging industrial heritage as a catalyst for equitable and forward-thinking urban progress, benefiting current inhabitants and future generations.

Interested authors are cordially invited to submit their manuscripts, including original research articles, review articles, short communications, and case studies, for publication in this Special Issue. Topics of interest may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

  • Sustainable Development for High-density Cities
  • Industrial Heritage Protection and Regeneration
  • Cultural Preservation and Sustainable Development
  • Adaptive Reuse Strategy

Dr. Jiazhen Zhang
Dr. Chenyang Liao
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • high-density cities
  • urban heritage
  • sustanable development
  • cultural preservation
  • industrial heritage
  • built heritage

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 22696 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Performance Differences of Industrial Heritage Regeneration Implementation Modes
by Tong Chu, Minghao Zhou and Jiang Wu
Buildings 2024, 14(11), 3489; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14113489 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 608
Abstract
In high-density cities around the world, the contradiction of sustaining development and limited resources has become more evident. Transforming historic industrial buildings, through both functional and spatial adjustments, has emerged as a key strategy to manage these challenges effectively. There is a significant [...] Read more.
In high-density cities around the world, the contradiction of sustaining development and limited resources has become more evident. Transforming historic industrial buildings, through both functional and spatial adjustments, has emerged as a key strategy to manage these challenges effectively. There is a significant demand for the quick regeneration of industrial heritage districts, resulting in the emergence of various implementation modes (IMs). While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have gained widespread acceptance, the integration of sustainability principles into urban regeneration practices has strengthened globally. However, in many regions, approaches to achieving sustainable regeneration are still unclear, with a lack of evaluation and adjustment of sustainability performance (SP). This paper combines qualitative analysis and a quantitative assessment of indicators to compare three representative case studies with different IMs. It explores whether there is a connection between the chosen IM and SP, examines the mechanisms of impact, and discusses how to select the most suitable IM for industrial heritage regeneration. The study confirms the practicality of an SP evaluation system and identifies key factors within IMs that affect SP. Future research is expected to produce tools that support the promotion of sustainability in industrial heritage regeneration efforts. Full article
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24 pages, 15502 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Satisfaction with Spatial Reuse of Industrial Heritage in High-Density Urban Areas: A Case Study of the Core Area of Beijing’s Central City
by Fanlei Meng, Xinyu Zhang and Yuxiang Pang
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1473; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051473 - 18 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1214
Abstract
Industrial heritage is regarded as an important stock of spatial resources in cities, which highlights its utilization value for urban regeneration in high-density urban areas. With the dramatic increase in the number of industrial heritage reuse projects, how to scientifically evaluate the satisfaction [...] Read more.
Industrial heritage is regarded as an important stock of spatial resources in cities, which highlights its utilization value for urban regeneration in high-density urban areas. With the dramatic increase in the number of industrial heritage reuse projects, how to scientifically evaluate the satisfaction with their spatial reuse is a key part of the solution for the mutual balance between heritage preservation and urban renewal. This paper takes eight industrial heritage conversion and utilization projects in the high-density core area of Beijing’s central city as examples; establishes an evaluation system for the satisfaction with the spatial reuse through six dimensions, namely, functional replacement, transportation accessibility, carrying capacity, public space, boundary form, and recognition of value; and uses the IPA method to evaluate the cases. This method is used to determine the degree of user satisfaction with the spatial reuse of industrial heritage in the core area of Beijing’s central city and to summarize the advantages and problems of its reuse. The results of this study reveal a trend toward the “community-oriented” re-generation of industrial heritage in the core area of Beijing’s central city, and this paper proposes recommendations for adaptive use to support high-quality urban regeneration work. Full article
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16 pages, 26476 KiB  
Article
Beyond Preservation: Heritage as an Educational Practice Process at 141 Neil Road, Singapore
by Xintong Wei, Haoming Zhou, Nikhil Joshi and Muyuan Tang
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051225 - 25 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1500
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the concept of heritage has been significantly broadened, with an increasing number of scholars viewing it not as a set of static objects with fixed meanings but as a social process consciously endowed with commemorative functions through human [...] Read more.
Over the past two decades, the concept of heritage has been significantly broadened, with an increasing number of scholars viewing it not as a set of static objects with fixed meanings but as a social process consciously endowed with commemorative functions through human creation. This research illustrates and empirically supports this perspective through a case study. Initially, the paper reviews the development of the heritage concept through the literature review and elaborates on the idea of “heritage as process”. Subsequently, it examines Singapore’s enriching exploration and successful implementation of heritage conservation, particularly since 2000, when the local government shifted from preserving historical buildings to a comprehensive conservation strategy that embraces a sense of place, identity, and memory and encourages a bottom-up participatory approach. Finally, this paper takes the transformation of the century-old townhouse at 141 Neil Road in Singapore as its focus. After being renovated into an urban architectural heritage conservation laboratory, the house has gradually become a place of heritage on Neil Road by training professionals’ construction skills, transforming its function, introducing technological explorations, and enhancing public interaction. This process has developed the abilities of heritage conservation professionals in desktop research, reuse design, and practical construction skills while simultaneously promoting community participation and heightening awareness of heritage conservation among local residents. Through daily practices, this historical townhouse gradually became a place of heritage on Neil Road, exemplifying the research theme that “heritage is a comprehensive and dynamic practice encompassing social, cultural, and technological dimensions”. From being preserved for renovation in 2020 to being approved as a “Heritage Show House” by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in 2023, the case of 141 Neil Road offers a new perspective in the heritage conservation field that “heritage is always in the process of becoming, rather than a constant given”. Full article
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22 pages, 28841 KiB  
Article
Construction of the Chinese Route of Industrial Heritage Based on Spatial and Temporal Distribution Analysis
by Jiahao Zhang, Lingchen Zhuo, Hao Sun, Yuanling Wang, Hanbin Wei, Subin Xu and Nobuo Aoki
Buildings 2024, 14(4), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14041065 - 11 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1248
Abstract
In the context of cultural routes, in order to achieve overall protection of industrial heritage, the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) was established to organize and promote the entire European industrial heritage. The conservation and utilization of Chinese industrial heritage are currently [...] Read more.
In the context of cultural routes, in order to achieve overall protection of industrial heritage, the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) was established to organize and promote the entire European industrial heritage. The conservation and utilization of Chinese industrial heritage are currently dominated by individual cases, which limits their potential to contribute to regional sustainable development. There is an urgent need of a conservation system at the regional or national level, to ensure that Chinese industrial heritage conservation effectively contributes to regional sustainable development. This study considers the industrial heritage of China built between 1840 and 1978 to establish the Chinese Industrial Heritage GIS Database (CIHGD). The analysis shows that the distribution of China’s industrial heritage is mainly concentrated in the eastern and southern coastal areas, and the industrial heritage has formed three key regions, 14 key cities, and important railway and water systems located in eastern China. The CRIH facilitates the holistic conservation of China’s industrial heritage and provides basic data for future research on China’s industrial heritage. The objective of this study is to promote the establishment of an information-based management system for industrial heritage in China, and to explore the value evaluation, protection system, and regional tourism of industrial heritage from a national perspective in China. Full article
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Review

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19 pages, 1771 KiB  
Review
Frontier Revitalisation of Industrial Heritage with Urban–Rural Fringe in China
by Tingjiang Gan, Juan Chen, Muxia Yao, Jeremy Cenci, Jiazhen Zhang and Yunxiao He
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1256; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051256 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1375
Abstract
The urban–rural fringe is at the forefront of the confrontation between the agricultural and industrial civilisations. How to handle the relationship between the two civilisations in this region and ensure its sustainable development is an eternal topic in the science of the human-living [...] Read more.
The urban–rural fringe is at the forefront of the confrontation between the agricultural and industrial civilisations. How to handle the relationship between the two civilisations in this region and ensure its sustainable development is an eternal topic in the science of the human-living environment. Thanks to the special historical background of the Third Line construction, China’s industrial heritage connects with the urban–rural fringe that surpasses other countries. For the first time, this study connects China’s Third Line construction, industrial heritage, and urban–rural integration within the same context, combining big data bibliometric methods to obtain the development characteristics and context of China’s industrial heritage research starting from 2004. It has strong policy characteristics, is influenced by administrative orders, and is aligned with urbanisation efforts. Theoretical exploration is the first step in research, followed by value connotations and cultural qualities. It addresses various topics, including industrial heritage conservation, regeneration approaches, and cultural heritage tourism. The research focuses primarily on the value appraisal of industrial heritage, exploring revitalisation tactics and routes, as well as regional development models in urban–rural periphery areas. This study also examines how scholars generally consider the impact of industrial heritage on the economic, social, and cultural development of urban–rural fringe areas in order to integrate and propose various protection and utilisation strategies, such as industrial heritage preservation, cultural and creative industry development, and tourism resource development. Full article
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