Hong Kong

Post-Industrial Brownfield

The southern part of the Baoshan district is one the most important industrialised areas in China and the most competitive steel and iron production base worldwide. After decades of exploitation and contamination of natural resources and the double pressure exerted by the rising cost of raw material and the slump of demand, the Baoshan government is introducing a policy of relocation and conversion of industrial sites, eager to change the image and the conditions of this polluted area. As most of the factories have either closed down or been relocated, a number of major projects such as international innovation parks for arts, science and entrepreneurship have been launched. Nevertheless, pollution of the natural environment and remediation remain major issues of this site.

Inaccessible port proposed as a wetland park

River Processing area of Bao Steel Factory proposed as an art college

Green patch with high ecological value

Hotpress area in steel factory to be demolished Abandoned railway track to be transformed

The Learning and Productive Canopy

Located along a canal system, this polluted post-industrial area is a mega monofunctional and gated enclave whose geographical condition and major infrastructure awaiting transformation hold great potential. The priority action for this brownfield reconversion is the restoration of its environmental conditions. The project develops strategies for on-site depollution through regenerative landscape design composed of wetland parks and soil capping for water and soil remediation. In order to optimise existing structures and respond to the monumental scale of industrial architecture, mega-programmes are being developed in existing warehouses, offering a new cultural hub for productivity and learning as well as net zero water and energy management. The development of major gates, soft and clean mobility, and edge integration reinforce the site’s inclusion in its context.

Accessible edge Wetland park

Water treatment plant

Art college with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels on roof

Commercial belt New public connection

Tramline Geothermal grassland

Urban armature Urban apparatus

Master plan

Regenerative landscape

Managed vegetation Managed water plants Managed grass Extended vegetation corridor Planted avenue Water system Wetland as water treatment

Active use of existing infrastructure

Injecting new dynamics in mega infrastructure

Existing public space (hardscape) Existing public space (plaza) Proposed public space (hardscape) Proposed public space (plaza) Green as public space Flow of people Major infrastructure as public space

Reconnect and distribute the site

Enhance quality of movement

Electric charging point Bicycle stations Bicycle path Flow of people Tram

Learning and productive canopy

From monofunctional to multifunctional programmes

Commercial Office Mixed-use: Commercial + office Social and community service Administrative Cultural centre

Green and blue

Managed vegetation Managed water plants Managed grass Extended vegetation corridor Planted avenue Water system Wetland as water treatment system

Public space

Existing public space (hardscape) Existing public space (plaza) Proposed public space (hardscape) Proposed public space (plaza) Green as public space Flow of people Major infrastructure as public space

Mobility

Building

Secondary road Internal roads Electric charging point Bicycle stations Bicycle path Flow of people Tram

Commercial Office Mixed-use: Commercial + residential Industrial Social and community service Administrative Cultural centre