This project repurposes a long-forgotten industrial site into a dynamic public hub. The site, located on the Binzhou Lake waterfront in Daqing, originally comprised abandoned office dormitories and a canteen from an old wharf. Through a “light-touch” design strategy, the renovation preserves the site’s industrial memory while transforming it into a “nature-inspired urban renewal stage” that serves as a new landmark and a comfortable stop for residents and visitors alike.

The core transformation involves retaining the existing low-rise architectural forms and original industrial elements, such as exposed red brick walls, cement-textured surfaces, and structural pipelines. A new architectural identity is created by adding a modern skin of cement-grey tones and integrating symbolic installations like a gantry crane at the entrance, which directly references the site's dockyard past. The landscape is reorganized to open up visual corridors to the lake, with lawns and preserved trees creating a seamless blend of the built and natural environments. Inside, the two buildings are programmed with contemporary functions—including a café, craft beer bar, cultural retail, and shared salons—using large openings to dissolve the boundary between interior activities and the scenic lakeshore.

This intervention successfully achieves a dual activation of commercial value and local identity. By creating a photogenic, multi-layered atmosphere that combines industrial heritage with natural beauty, the project caters to the modern demand for shareable experiences and emotional resonance. It extends the social life of the area into the evening, encourages longer stays, and has transformed a once-dormant asset into a vibrant public interface. Ultimately, it acts as an “emotional landmark” that not only revitalizes the local economy but also redefines the urban lifestyle along the Binzhou Lake waterfront, demonstrating a replicable model for heritage-led urban renewal.

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Daqing Urban Renewal: Binzhou Courtyard

Daqing, China

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Daqing Urban Renewal: Binzhou Courtyard

Daqing, China

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Collaborating Firms

Team