Xi Shui Dong Factory conservation project at Wuxi: a case of property developer-led conservation

Abstract

As a city that has played an important part in the industrialization process of the country, Wuxi owns many abandoned and dilapidated industrial plants in the inner city. The successful conservation cases of Shanghai’s industrial heritages really enlightened the Wuxi Municipal Government, which was also searching for ways to push forward economic restructuring while facing a land shortage in the city.

Founded in 1919 by the well-known Chinese entrepreneurs the Rong brothers, the original No.3 Shenxin Factory used to be the biggest spinnery manufacturer in Wuxi. Then, in 2005, as the factory was transferred to industrial estate in suburban area, the original site became abandoned. Two years later, the original factory site was listed as industrial heritage of Wuxi and leased to the Hong Kong developer SPGland at the same time.

The urban redevelopment project of Xi Shui Dong Factory (former No.3 Shenxin Factory) started in 2008. Kokaistudios was appointed by SPGland to lead the architectural conservation part.

As a typical property developer-led conservation project in the heart of a redevelopment area including a number of high density residential towers and commercial centres, the Xi Shui Dong Factory project offers a challenge to the designers. The problem is which approach of conservation they should take and how they should deal with the relationship between the old buildings and the newly built ones.

The dissertation focuses on the detailed study of a factory complex in the site and tries to analyze issues concerning the conservation of the factory complex in the context of the urban regeneration. At the same time it also brings to light the relative merits between property developer-led and culture-led conservation efforts.