Toward developing a sustainable regeneration framework for urban industrial heritage

Abstract

PurposeRegeneration of industrial heritage aims to display the patrimony assets by launching measures to convert them into cultural spaces associated with sustainable initiatives for satisfying environmental, social and economic demands in the city. The adaptive transformation and reusing process of industrial heritage constitutes a crucial cultural objective and consequently must be identified in a way that simultaneously integrates preservation with conversion and conservation with refurbishment. Hence, this paper explores to develop a framework for the sustainable regeneration of industrial heritage in cities.Design/methodology/approachBy reviewing the current literature, research and experiences on urban industrial heritage, including existing approaches, frameworks, and case studies, this study brings a theoretical and conceptual approach to sustainable regeneration of industrial heritage, which is a fundamental start point for conducting further research and performing practical projects.FindingsThree key phases of the Initiation as decision context, including understand the characteristics and assess the significance, the Planning as decision problem, including study the feasibility, develop a policy, and prepare a proposed reuse plan, and the Execution as decision output, including implement the plan, monitor the results and review the plan should be considered regarding the sustainable regeneration of urban industrial heritage.Originality/valueThe suggested framework considers sustainable regeneration of industrial heritage in cities as a decision-making process, which requires defining the decision context, analyzing the decision problem, and finally, results in the decision output. Accordingly, it seems to help bridge the gap between various discourses and planning perspectives and make all stakeholders' involvement easier, more effective and efficient regarding the sustainable regeneration of industrial heritage in cities.

Research into Satisfaction with Industrial Heritage Renewal Based on the SEM-IPA Model: A Case Study of the Dongguan Jianyuzhou Park

“…In terms of industrial heritage and community construction, Cenci et al [17] have argued that preserving cultural identity represented by brownfield sites enables residents of former industrial areas to have a sense of place belonging to the industrial heritage transformation. The sustainable renewal of industrial heritage aims to meet the environmental, social, and economic needs of the city by adopting measures to transform industrial sites into cultural spaces relevant to sustainable initiatives, and adopt a combination of conservation and transformation, conservation, and renovation [18]. In the case of new technologies for transformation, digital technologies are applied to industrial heritage management and cultural promotion and make industrial heritage a smart heritage.…”

Toward a sustainable urban regeneration? Urban heritage between neoliberal forces and community preferences

“…Urban transformations currently aim to include elements of sustainable principles in order to prevent decay and decrepitude of heritage. The social component and the user-environment relation should be highly considered in regeneration of cultural heritage [9], while regeneration of urban industrial heritage should balance and integrate the preservation-conversion-refurbishment process [10]. In postsocialist countries, such relations are usually turbulent, and remain heavily affected by the market led development.…”

Industrial Heritage in Malaga (Spain): Research and Education via Four Key Design Concepts

“…Martinovic and Ifko [31] investigated, albeit limited to the post-war context, how industrial heritage sites in danger due to their social, historical, architectural, and technological values provide a fruitful basis for incorporating sustainability principles and how they can be considered a catalyst for urban regeneration. Sustainability and the circular economy are among the most relevant aspects sought when intervening in historic buildings and are often the main reason to reuse instead of rebuilding existing facilities [32]. However, urban reactivation policies and local development have been the main relevant aspects fostered by these proposals, as in many other case studies [33].…”