"Across China, a legacy of vast industrial structures stands decommissioned, as a direct result of the nation's economic shift to different forms of industry. These buildings are defined by their colossal height and deep structural capacity. Today, they present an architectural challenge for contemporary urban renewal and a new topic for heritage preservation. As they become absorbed by growing urban developments, architects are tasked with translating them into functional, public-facing assets."
"According to the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, by 2020, China was not only leading in the production of metals, but it was also leading in other industries such as the computer and Electronics sector. Currently, according to the World Economic Forum, China represents the second-largest economy in the world with a nominal GDP of approximately 18 trillion USD."
Vast decommissioned industrial structures across China possess colossal height and deep structural capacity, presenting both constraints and opportunities for urban contexts. Growing urban developments increasingly absorb these complexes, prompting architects to translate them into functional, public-facing assets. Interventions often retain and highlight defining elements such as furnaces and chimneys to reposition complexes as critical urban landmarks. China's economy has shifted away from traditional heavy industry toward sectors including computers and electronics, contributing to its rise as the world’s second-largest economy with a nominal GDP near 18 trillion USD. Repurposing these industrial shells can establish a robust baseline for future urban renewal and industrial heritage preservation.
Read at ArchDaily
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]