Interpretation of 798: Changes in Power of Representation and Sustainability of Industrial Landscape

Abstract

Against the background of economic transformation and urban renewal, the protection and sustainable development of urban industrial landscapes has become an important practical issue, and how to maintain the unique local culture of these landscapes is key to solving the problem. By integrating the concept of "layer" and regarding the landscape as text, this paper will investigate the representation of industrial landscapes and the process of changes in power represented by different actors through different texts from the perspective of representation. The paper selected Beijing 798 as the research area to explore the shaping of changes in the industrial landscape of 798 from a weapon manufacturing area to an arts district, creative industry park and the "pan 798" by the factory owners, government, management committee, artists, media and tourists through different presentation forms, revealing the game process of representation of powers among the coalition between artists, management committee and the government. The paper points out that in fact, the representation of industrial landscape by different actors through different texts is a process that continues to explore and define the value of landscape. However, we need to look at this when the value of the industrial landscape is no longer given by localized life practices, but rather depends on different actors to produce and reproduce the value of landscape by representation, and thereby affecting the sustainable development of industrial landscape.

Exploring the Diverse Expectations of Stakeholders in Industrial Land Redevelopment Projects in China: The Case of Shanghai

“…However, in the context of China, although the other stakeholders in this study were not concerned with it, social stability remained a focal issue for local governments. Industrial heritage is an important catalyst for realizing social sustainability in urban redevelopment, and should be well protected [34,77]. However, due to the lack of an effective incentive mechanism for industrial heritage protection to compensate land users' losses, in the current research there emerged a great conflict of opinion between land users in land user-led redevelopment projects and other stakeholders.…”

“…On one hand, this refers to improving the living environment and urban landscape. On the other hand, it refers to reducing air and water pollution caused by industrial production and buildings' energy consumption [33,34]. Although there has been a growing number of studies focusing on sustainable industrial land redevelopment, existing studies mainly focus on the economic and environmental dimensions.…”

Place-making: From a Residents’ Initiative to a Participatory Effect: The Case Study of BOMBAST

“…In this top-down hierarchical structure, spaces were completely closed without consultation with stakeholders, including tourists, artists, art institutes, and residents in neighbourhoods. However, avant-garde artists challenged the power by fighting against the destruction of the cultural heritage and the eviction of the art village (Dai et al, 2015). Forming an art-advocacy group called, Thinking Hands (Di Pietro, 2014), they partnered with other external activist groups to hold a series of experimental exhibitions in District 798 to publicize the upcoming demolition of the arts district and gain more awareness and support.…”

Stakeholder Analysis and Social Network Analysis in the Decision-Making of Industrial Land Redevelopment in China: The Case of Shanghai

“…Over the past few decades, urban renewal has made a significant contribution in enhancing the physical environment and quality of life on a global scale, and it will continue to bring about significant changes to inner-city areas in the future [ 36 , 37 ]. Against the backdrop of post industrialization, the fading of urban manufacturing within intra city areas has been a problematic issue across the globe, leaving massive amounts of underutilized industrial land within cities [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Therefore, ILR has become a vital part of urban renewal.…”