Abstract
In China, the decline of industrial communities suffering from both the aging of physical space and the breakdown of social relations. How to make marginalized and closed industrial communities actively integrate into the development of urban renewal has gradually become an issue of concern.
The paper takes the “Jingzhou New Town Industrial Park Urban Design Project” as an opportunity to explore a transformation path suitable for China's national conditions through the study of the history, culture, current problems, and renewal strategies of this heritage-type industrial community.
The study finally proposes three renewal strategies for industrial communities, which provide samples with certain reference value for the renewal of old industrial communities.
1 Introduction
1.1 Research background
In the early years of China's founding, state-owned enterprises thrived, fostering well-managed residential communities around their factories. However, by the late 20th century, the privatization and restructuring of these enterprises led to mass layoffs and the decline of industrial communities. This resulted in disintegration, disconnecting the old communities from urban life and causing significant urban problems.
Industrial community regeneration involves transforming and renewing existing industrial areas to facilitate sustainable community development, enhance the quality of life, and adapt to economic and social changes. This primarily addresses abandoned industrial sites, vacant factories, and the economic transformation of cities and regions [1, pp. 55–64].
1.2 Synthesis of relevant studies
In the Chinese context, researchers have explored relevant studies. Liu Boying [2, pp. 5–8] emphasizes the importance of workers' communities in industrial heritage protection. Lijing Dong et al. [3, pp. 1022–1038] propose a model detailing interwoven mechanisms influencing community renewal at both macroscopic and microcosmic levels. Bai Mei [4, pp. 15–20] systematically categorizes place memory mediums in the community based on place memory theory, exploring ideas and strategies for renewing units with industrial heritage characteristics. Hu Ruohan [5, pp. 882–891] critically examines the “amnesia” phenomenon in Chinese industrial heritage community renewal, advocating a strategy centered on preserving aboriginal authenticity, establishing cultural revitalization as the cornerstone, and utilizing spatial authenticity as a vehicle.
Existing literature primarily concentrates on industrial communities within urban centers, neglecting the urban fringe. The renewal process frequently lacks balanced consideration for all stakeholders' interests and spatial environment concentration. These are vital aspects demanding special attention in our research.
1.3 Research methodology
This study employs historical research methods to analyze the developmental history of the Yubiao industrial community in Jingzhou. It then utilizes questionnaire surveys to gather information from relevant social sectors and resident groups. The study addresses social and spatial environmental issues in the research design, proposing a renewal strategy for the industrial community.
2 Assessment and analysis of community status
2.1 Research and assessment of the community
This study examines community renewal in Jingzhou City, a significant industrial hub in south-central Hubei Province, China. The renewal is part of a broader initiative encompassing commercial real estate development and government investment. Covering about 5.99 square kilometers, the project is situated in the northwest of the Jingzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, integral to Jingzhou City's new town planning. The precursor, the Yuqiao Industrial Estate, holds historical importance as a concentrated area for industrial development since the early stages of China's reform and opening up (Fig. 1).
Existing floor plan of the site (Source: Authors')
Citation: Pollack Periodica 19, 3; 10.1556/606.2024.00994
The current site comprises two segments: one where production and living activities persist and another consisting of abandoned industrial land. Statistically, the area is inhabited by approximately 3,903 corporate employees and 5,537 residents.
Human is one of the important factors, because the number of people and the socialization also means the emergence of various forms of activities, so that the area can be more energetic. [6, pp. 150–155]. Conducting a walk-through survey, the initial study centered on residents' neighborhood perceptions to identify specific community issues. Using two feedback methods, a questionnaire administered to 200 randomly selected residents employed a scoring method to assess overall community environment quality based on housing, supporting facilities, public spaces, and community identity.
Secondly, around 20 residents underwent random interviews, offering insights into their daily lives, attitudes, and suggestions regarding community renovation and renewal (Table 1). Current residents in old residential buildings, over 30 years old and near the original factory, mostly belong to the first generation of factory workers. Conversely, young migrant workers reside in dormitories constructed less than 10 years ago by newly established factories and enterprises, as their children have largely departed for other opportunities.
Results of interviews with selected residents
| Enthusiastic Lady #1 | A worker of factory waiting for the bus | Elderly people sitting around chatting | Enthusiastic Lady #2 | |
| Family Status | Retired, children have left the community, living in a three-story home with a sloped roof | Age 30+, foreign workers from surrounding cities and live alone | Retired, son and daughter working abroad | Age 60+, lives on the same floor as her children but in a different household |
| Residential Issues | No school in the community, no public transportation, only drive to and from grandchildren daily | Less green neighborhoods and lack of space for exercise | Housing was built in the 1960s, the area is small, now it is dangerous and leaking | Built in 1960s, small size |
| Difficulties in daily life | Daily travel by bus, only one bus stop in the community | Public transportation between the factory area and the residence is very infrequent. | No daily group activities, community occasionally organizes | There are courier points but they are far from home |
| Comments and Suggestions | No | hope the transportation can be improved between factory area and housing area | Wants to arrange sports exercise facilities and activity venues | Willingness to bear part of the cost of improving the community environment |
Radar charts derived from survey statistics reveal the following (Fig. 2): Regarding housing, the cost of living is remarkably low (around Chinese Yuan (CNY) 300 per month, utilities not exceeding CNY 100 per month) due to the factory's policies. However, the housing, built a long time ago, presents quality issues, with smaller sizes compared to contemporary housing. Supporting facilities in the community are limited in size and type, hindering the satisfaction of modern resident needs. Although the community has a high greening rate, with extensive undeveloped land, the quantity and quality of public space are only average. Being an employee community, strong community identity is evident among residents, fostering close relationships and a high level of identification, accompanied by a reliance on the community's social network.
Community environmental quality score results (Source: Authors')
Citation: Pollack Periodica 19, 3; 10.1556/606.2024.00994
2.2 Collation of resident's demand and existing issues
Based on resident research and field investigations, this study categorizes community issues into two main aspects: the low quality of the living environment and the absence of historical and cultural heritage. Quality of living environment issues includes residential houses, ancillary buildings, and public spaces. Conversely, population decline, limited public life, and forgotten community heritage suggest the gradual disappearance of community culture and history. These problems encompass community structure, localization, history, culture, and physical space. Following analysis, three solution strategies emerged: comprehensive community restructuring, residential renovation and expansion, and the revitalization and utilization of community industrial heritage and public spaces (Table 2).
Categorical analysis of community issues
| Types of Issues | Housing Issues | Issues of Daily Life | Issues of Public Life | Community History Issues |
| Concrete Manifestation | Small and dilapidated housing; lack of services; lack of space for activities, etc. | Lack of service functions, single industry; inconvenient transportation, few convenient facilities, low quality | Lack of public spaces for activities | Unvalued and poorly preserved industrial heritage in the community, with significant loss of local population |
| Possible Coping Strategies | Residential Alterations and Extensions, Overall community restructuring | Overall community restructuring | Overall community restructuring, adaptive use of public space | Adaptive use of Industrial Heritage and public space |
3 Updated strategy for the industrial community
3.1 Overall layout restructuring of community
The estate's expansion and increased commuting needs have resulted in mixed road use for goods transportation and daily driving. Additionally, insufficient attention to urban public transportation has weakened the community's accessibility to the central urban area, impacting residents' connection to the city.
For road traffic enhancement, the study explored several options. These included interrupting the current Shazen Road while preserving alignment on both sides, connecting to Jinxiang Avenue to the north, maintaining a functional east-west road network on the south side based on the existing traffic layout, and constructing a new side road along Fuxing Avenue and the Jingsha Railway to facilitate traffic flow within the community site (Fig. 3).
Roads planning and restructuring (Source: Authors')
Citation: Pollack Periodica 19, 3; 10.1556/606.2024.00994
3.2 Residential renovation and expansion
After evaluating the community holistically, it categorizes into three residential units: eco-living, creator-service, and smart-sharing. The research focuses on fifth-generation residential building types for new constructions, aligning with cooperative efforts between developers and the government, emphasizing eco-green concepts.
3.3 Revitalization of the community's industrial heritage and public space
The regional landscape architecture design is a complex unity of science that integrates the living habits, culture, art, and natural conditions of the residents. [7, pp. 164–168]. As per Jingzhou City Planning Bureau records, the community's future area will be developed as part of Jingzhou New City's gateway image, primarily for cultural and tourism functions catering to foreign tourists. Consequently, the study suggests that enhancing both the quantity and quality of public space can benefit local residents and simultaneously provide opportunities for community development through tourism.
Selected undeveloped open spaces and community structures serve as landscape nodes. Along the planned landscape axes, various parks and plazas with different types and themes are designed. These spaces cater to the socialization needs of local residents and meet the requirements of foreign visitors.
The industrial production remnants in the community, like railroad tracks and water towers, hold significant historical and cultural heritage value. However, adapting them to modern residents' lives is challenging, making them suitable primarily for landscaping renovation. Consequently, merging these industrial heritage elements with public squares, such as converting water towers into viewing platforms, is proposed (Fig. 4). This approach, using heritage structures as visual focal points in the plaza, can highlight community memory and history, fostering a sense of community identity among residents.
Converting water towers into viewing platforms (Source: Authors')
Citation: Pollack Periodica 19, 3; 10.1556/606.2024.00994
4 Conclusions
In the study of industrial communities, those undergoing renovation on the city outskirts face unique challenges compared to ordinary communities. Characterized by remote locations, small scale, simple functions, and relative isolation, these factory-affiliated communities deal with the issue of “social marginalization.” Despite this, residents maintain tight social networks and possess deep memories of their living spaces, crucial factors in the renovation and renewal process.
Considering the community's characteristics and challenges, this paper proposes renewal strategies, including overall structural adjustment, residential building reconstruction, and the revitalization of industrial heritage and public spaces. The comprehensive scheme involves transportation and business function adjustments, alterations, and expansions of existing residential structures, considering the community's overall layout, residents' basic life, and the preservation and utilization of historical heritage.
In considering the applicability of renovation and renewal strategies for industrial communities, it is essential to account for environmental constraints and the community's historical and cultural background. Practical strategies should be proposed, tailored to the specific types of residential and public cultural heritage within the community and their spatial distribution characteristics.
References
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