Progress and Prospects in Industrial Heritage Reconstruction and Reuse Research during the Past Five Years: Review and Outlook

Abstract

The reconstruction and reuse of industrial heritage has constituted important means for the protection of that heritage, and has played a crucial role in promoting urban renewal and sustainable urban development. In this study, we reviewed 404 pieces of literature on industrial heritage reconstruction and reuse published in the past five years (January 2017 to August 2022), which includes the most representative studies (those published in key journals in the field) or the most influential studies (those highly cited). We then used three keyword tools (WordStat, Weiciyun and CiteSpace) and conducted keyword extraction, analysis and meaning presentation of 404 studies, finally identified three main research themes: (1) the current barriers to industrial heritage reconstruction and reuse, (2) the coping strategies for industrial heritage reconstruction and reuse, and (3) the evaluation of the effects of industrial heritage reconstruction and reuse. Our results revealed and clarified the latest trends in international research. Meanwhile, we also pointed out the inadequacies of the current research, such as ignoring important topics and the limitations of research methods. We hope that our research could inspire future research on industrial heritage reconstruction and reuse.