INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE STUDY OF RUSSIAN INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE: A REVIEW OF URAL HISTORIOGRAPHY

The legacy of industrialisation counts only a few decades of being accepted as cultural heritage. The change of perceptions over its connotation and significance, from a menace to historic landscapes to an outstanding historical resource, took place in an era of massive sociocultural and economic upheavals. Those far-reaching developments reshaped both the theory and the practice of heritage conservation. Since the 1970s, new conservation approaches started emerging and being employed, next to the long established strategies of preservation and restoration. Adaptive reuse was included in the repertoire of conservation and quickly gained ground, as a strategy which allowed both the preservation of heritage values and sustainable development. The incorporation of adaptive reuse as an alternative conservation approach marked a noteworthy shift in heritage care. Contemporary conservation seized aiming at the prevention of change. Instead, it embraced it, following the new axiom: ‘Managing change’. This dissertation, positioned in the crossroads of the heritage conservation, architectural and spatial planning fields, focuses on Industrial Heritage Reuse practice in Europe. Despite widely employed in the last half century, Industrial Heritage Reuse still remains particularly challenging and highly confusing, hiding internal and external risks. Those resonate from the conditions of present times, the ambiguities of the contemporary framework of conservation, the embedded dilemmas of the Reuse practice as well as from the particularities of this special heritage group. This vastly complex yet fascinating topic has not yet been studied holistically under the circumstances dictated by the contemporary era. A deeper and broader understanding of the practice has assumed greater urgency in the 21st century, as it is the stepping stone for the enhancement of the practice -a demand that is increasingly stressed by academic and professional circles. The aim of this dissertation is to explore the potential of enhancement of the Industrial Heritage Reuse through the identification and analysis of its influencing Aspects, under the light of the contemporary theoretical conservation concepts, the current demands of the field of practice and the rising challenges of the 21st century context. This research addresses a topical issue, drawing from the concepts of the contemporary theory of conservation, challenging outdated theoretical notions and conventional practical and methodological applications. Furthermore, it sheds light to a hazy and confusing subject, addressing the tensions and the unresolved issues, highlighted by the existing literature on multiple disciplines. It revisits and reinterprets the standing axiom ‘Managing Change’, providing the scientific community with missing answers on the way, the Actors and the criteria based on which this can be achieved. Drawing upon both theory and practice on an international level, this inquiry gives a holistic and multileveled view on the subject under investigation, stimulating further thought and debate. Apart from extending the academic body of knowledge, the intention of this doctoral research is also to become a useful springboard for the practitioners that engage with Industrial Heritage Reuse. In order to achieve that, this dissertation presents an international and retrospective review of Industrial Heritage care, allowing experience drawn from one country to inform approaches on safeguarding via Reuse on other countries. Furthermore, it offers inspiration and raises awareness through the ‘ReIH’ online knowledge platform (http://reindustrialheritage.eu/projects) and the analysis of twenty cases studies of best practice. Lastly, taking into account the pressing issues of sustainability, equality and multilateralism, it offers guidance, providing a much needed alternative framework for the conservation of Industrial Heritage. This framework is capable of practical implementation and can contribute to an enhanced, more responsive, more sustainable, more inclusive, more value-driven and more holistic practice.

Purpose The conservation of historical buildings, including industrial architectural heritage, plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable urban development, encompassing the preservation of architectural heritage, cultural growth and economic expansion. This study delves into the economic factors influencing the conservation of industrial architectural heritage within Hong Kong’s context, examining its implications in promoting sustainable architectural practices and urban revitalization. Design/methodology/approach The study utilizes the hedonic pricing model to analyze the impact of intrinsic heritage attributes and extrinsic urban environmental characteristics on transaction prices. The analysis amalgamates various factors, including architectural values, and location-specific amenities factors, to provide an insightful understanding of industrial heritage conservation and the management of cultural-historical significance. Findings A thorough examination of 30,350 property transaction records spanning from 2009 to 2023 across 26 sub-districts in Hong Kong unveils the multifaceted relationship between industrial heritage preservation and diverse sustainability aspects, such as economic, environmental, social, architectural and cultural dimensions. The findings emphasize the importance of considering these interrelated factors when devising strategies for the effective management and conservation of industrial architectural heritage. Originality/value This study contributes to the growing body of literature on cultural heritage management and sustainable development by offering a novel perspective on the interrelation between industrial architectural heritage conservation and multiple facets of cultural heritage management in Hong Kong. By employing the hedonic price model, this research uncovers the intricate connections between economic factors and heritage conservation, enriching the existing body of knowledge within the Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development.

Conservation of industrial heritage as a cultural item has allowed the consolidation of a new discipline called Industrial Archaeology, focused on the study, catalogation and conservation of material remains linked to the process of industrialization which emerged from English revolution in late 18th century. The article analyzes the principles on which Community cultural policy is based, as well as the means of finance offered by European institutions to help projects of cultural heritage conservation. Finally, it describes the proceedings which are being carried out in Asturias regarding conservation and studies of industrial heritage.

Urban industrial heritage is both a physical component of the city and an important carrier of urban memory, but there is still a lack of comprehensive analysis of industrial heritage in Tianjin and a need for a conservation system. This study took the industrial heritage of Tianjin built between 1860 and 1978 as the research object and used GIS technology to analyse the spatial and temporal distribution of industrial heritage and the current state of its reuse. The results show that in the temporal dimension, the distribution of industrial heritage in Tianjin shows a pattern of change of “gathering first, then scattering”, with the 1960s as the time point; in the spatial dimension, the existing industrial heritage shows a pattern of distribution along important transport routes—the Haihe River, the Jingfeng Railway and the Jinpu Railway, and there are three industrial heritage clusters. The conservation and reuse status of industrial heritage varies by resource type, but the overall state is poor. Based on the results of the above analysis, a holistic conservation concept of the “Tianjin Industrial Heritage Route” and a reuse strategy for different resource types of industrial heritage are proposed. This will help to integrate the reuse of Tianjin’s industrial heritage into the sustainable development of the city and provide a reference for the conservation of industrial heritage in other cities in China and even in the world.

ABSTRACTThe conservation of industrial heritage is a form of values-based social practice that is not only constituted by the normative heritage discourses, but is also influenced by other contextualised social and cultural imperatives. The ideas about what constitutes industrial heritage, the value of the remains of industrial culture, and the practices of conservation continue to evolve. This paper reflects on this evolution in the context of the Chinese cultural heritage protection system. Emphasis is placed upon the trend that the industrial heritage is redefined in, and managed through, sensitive legislation and policies. Furthermore, this paper examines how the conservation of industrial heritage is adopted in varying forms of adaptive reuse by taking examples from Shanghai. Its policy domain has become multi-disciplinary, and it is important to develop dynamic ways of conservation compatible with the current and ongoing urban development and its planning practices.

Industrial heritage now plays a pivotal role in urban renewal and development in China, offering both challenges and opportunities. This article aims to explore effective strategies for leveraging industrial heritage to address this dual aspect. The research first analyzes the landscape status of industrial heritage sites. At the same time, the conservation of industrial heritage and the regenerative use of the landscape are studied from the spatial perspective of geographic information. The protection of industrial heritage is of extraordinary significance. Therefore, the design of the landscape regeneration of the heritage site is conducted from the perspective of heritage protection, and the corresponding protection measures and conception methods are put forward. Finally, the analytic hierarchy process method is used to select the evaluation factors and calculate the weight distribution and weight factors of the industrial and architectural heritage.

Amid rapid urban regeneration over the past decade, industrial heritage conservation in China has garnered increasing attention, focusing more on the reuse of listed buildings than on conflicts in the inscription process. This article examines the conflicts and dilemmas between urban redevelopment and industrial heritage conservation during the inscription process in China, through five case studies in Guangzhou. It aims to provide both an understanding of conflicts and institutional challenges posed by land banking, and insights into stakeholder dynamics, the role of media and NGOs, and the implementation of cultural heritage assessments. Grounded in the Institutional Analysis and Development framework, the empirical studies reveal that institutional conflicts, particularly resistance from land development centers and former factory owners, often stem from financial motivations. This resistance can lead to the premature demolition of potential heritage sites but also drive institutional innovations. Guangzhou’s introduction of the Wenping assessment system integrates industrial heritage identification with land banking and urban regeneration planning, aiming to protect heritage from hasty demolitions. Media coverage and NGO advocacy have been instrumental in heritage-making and prompting policy responses. The adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites into creative industrial parks faces challenges from their temporary nature and land banking pressures, underscoring the need for policies ensuring stable and enduring reuse. Ambiguous responsibilities and fragmented management systems further impede effective heritage conservation.

Industrial heritage conservative reuse has become a territorialised urban strategy in China’s recent urban regeneration programmes in which the local state mobilises appropriate property market participants. The spatialised interpretation of two socialist industrial heritage sites in Hangzhou reveals that industrial heritage conservation has been undertaken as property commodity development with built environment enhancement and economic rewards as priorities. Cultural values and social narratives have yet to be reconstructed to play critical roles in the territorialisation of industrial heritage. Anticipated community engagement and non-state interests’ bargaining power have been restrained by the state who exerts vigilance against social unrest that could be brought by heritage conservation.

This chapter develops an ethical approach to thinking about obligations toward the preservation of industrial heritage. Industrial heritage is an aspect of cultural heritage dealing specifically with the buildings and artifacts of industry which are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present, and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. We also refer to these broadly as “inheritance ethics.” As a central case study, we compare the approaches to the preservation of industrial heritage between the Ruhr district of western Germany and the Shenyang urban region of northeast China. We discuss how different engineering decision-making mechanisms lead to different ethical choices about heritage and inheritance. The main example of Shenyang city will demonstrate, similar to other cities in China, that architectural and older industrial ruins were considered unsightly and polluted. As such, these sites have often been destroyed, thus erasing the material, architectural, and industrial heritage of previous generations. While many sites of ancient cultural heritage are protected in China, the question goes unanswered as to whether we have the right to destroy the historical imprint left by our more recent industrial lineage. Further, we inquire as to whether China can realize a development ethics that considers both the needs of future generations as well as the heritage left by previous generations.

Since the 1980s, China has undergone a series of important changes including industrial restructuring, land transfer, and urbanisation. These have given rise to the issue of how to address industrial heritage within many cities. The author’s research team has undertaken a National Social Science’s Major Project (the highest level of Chinese national social science research) titled ‘Systematic Research on the Protection of Urban Industrial Heritage in Modern China’. This is the first nationwide and systematic study of industrial heritage in China. This paper provides a brief introduction to the study’s framework and current research achievements, including: (1) the study of industrial modernisation processes, including international perspectives; (2) industrial heritage information acquisition and database setup; (3) estimation of industrial heritage value; (4) studies of the planning and design strategy of industrial heritage reutilisation; and (5) the transition from industrial heritage conservation to the development of a cultural industry.

The conservation of historical buildings is essential for safeguarding architectural heritage, facilitating urban development, and promoting sustainable economic growth. This research investigates the adaptive reuse of industrial architectural heritage in Hong Kong, focusing on its sustainable contributions to architectural practice and urban redevelopment. Employing the hedonic pricing model, this study quantitatively analyses the impact of industrial heritage conservation on property prices, revealing its significant contributions to imperatives with economic and developmental goals. Positioning Hong Kong as a paradigmatic example, this study uses a comprehensive analysis of 34,892 property transaction records collected from January 2010 to September 2022 across 23 subdistricts and offers critical insights into the challenges and opportunities of safeguarding industrial heritage within dynamic high-density urban landscapes. The findings indicate that approximately 75% of the variability in industrial property prices can be attributed to significant variables at the 1% confidence level. Key architectural parameters, including gross floor area (GFA), age, and floor level, demonstrate nonlinear relationships with industrial buildings designated for heritage conservation. The data suggest that industrial properties with a GFA of up to 10,989 square feet and an age of up to 41.5 years are considered best for preserving heritage values. Other urban planning parameters, such as the provisions of car parks and proximity to public transportation interchanges, also have significant positive external impacts on industrial property prices. These findings provide empirical evidence regarding the influence of heritage conservation on industrial property prices, serving as a valuable resource for policy-makers aiming to promote sustainable urban development and effective resource allocation. By integrating heritage conservation into urban planning strategies, this research underscores the vital role that preserved industrial heritage can play in fostering vibrant, sustainable urban environments.

This paper takes a retrospective review of the evolution of the conservation of industrial heritage in urban Shanghai since the 1990s within the context of the international industrial heritage conservation movement, with the emphasis on the construction of preservation systems, technical regulation compilation and conservation practice. Active conservation and adaptive reuse is the focus within the framework of the conservation of the architectural characteristics of industrial buildings and the townscape of industrial districts.

This article examines the policy issues connected with a programme of economic redevelopment centred upon the conservation and renewal of industrial heritage. The article examines the case of Blaenavon Industrial Landscape in South Wales which has recently been successful in gaining status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourism-led economic development focusing on industrial heritage is shown to present some unique trade-offs between promoting the needs of visitors over local communities, and between the maintenance of cultural value and site commodification.

Although successful examples of industrial heritage conservation are becoming increasingly common in Turkey, as well as worldwide, there is currently no comprehensive and integrated industrial heritage conservation example in Isparta, which has hosted numerous historical industrial structures such as carpet factories, leather factories, sulfur factories, and rose oil factories. The situation of rose oil factories, which have evolved from regional production to an industrial scale and are therefore significant in the context of industrial heritage, is particularly striking. Many of the factories built for rose oil production in the past have been demolished and have not survived to the present day. In this study, information about rose cultivation and rose oil production in Isparta was obtained from written and visual archives. The progress of rose cultivation in the region was examined, and determinations were made regarding the rose oil factories. The efforts made to protect and register these factories as industrial heritage were documented. The study utilized methods such as on-site observation, photographic documentation, and measurements for survey drawings, along with archival documents from factories and institutions. Determinations were also made for the Isparta rose oil factories. Attention was drawn to the necessity of preserving the Güneykent Old Rose Oil Factory, which is the most qualified and oldest existing example among these factories, as part of the industrial heritage. An application was made for its registration. The reasons for registering the building were addressed within the framework of the common principles of ICOMOS-TICCIH, emphasizing the importance of registration reasons in the conservation of industrial heritage and aiming to reveal the process of registration. This study provides a foundation for applications to conservation boards for the preservation of structures that maintain their authenticity but are in a dormant state.

As an important part of the world cultural heritage, industrial architectural heritage is an important witness to the achievements of the development process of human industrialized civilization. With the national industrial structure adjustment and urbanization, many typical industrial factories in China are facing the problem of land replacement, among which, the modern industrial architectural heritage is facing the corresponding problem of conservation and reuse. People’s demand for material and cultural life is increasing, and they are more concerned about the protection of urban heritage and memory, which actively promotes the protection of industrial architectural heritage and also puts forward higher requirements for the utilization of industrial architectural heritage. The research in the field of industrial heritage in China started late compared to that in Europe and the United States, and usually, architects dominate the design of industrial heritage reuse more than heritage conservators. This paper addresses the problems in the process of conservation and reuse of industrial architectural heritage, and carries out research work from the perspective of heritage conservation and reuse design. It analyzes the current situation of industrial building heritage reuse design in China and conducts research on the problems existing in the process of industrial building reuse design. It also discusses the bottom line and criteria for the conservation and reuse of industrial building heritage, and discusses the design strategies for the conservation and reuse of modern industrial building heritage according to the industrial building research results in categories.