In the old urban district of Guangzhou, where room for additional development is now very scarce, a 33,000-square-meter area of “ruins” presents a potentially lucrative project for real estate developers.
The “ruins” borders the Pearl River in the east and is adjacent to Fangcun Avenue in the west, only a two-minute walk from a bus station. The beautiful riverscape and convenient transportation fixed a considerable price for this space; whether it was to be developed as a commercial or residential center, or a luxury hotel. Additionally, except for empty oil tanks, rusty steel plates, damaged red walls, and weed-dotted sloping patches, there are no existing residential houses; thus, no complications of homeowner relocation and compensation.
This expanse of “ruins” has an inseparable relationship with China’s contemporary industry and Guangzhou’s history of opening-up. This place, historically known as Asiatic Huadi Warehouse, was once a petroleum warehouse, established in 1906 by British Asiatic Petroleum Company. Along with the factories, docks, and warehouses lining both sides of the Pearl River, it was then part of the earliest industrial base of Guangzhou and one of the city’s export ports. The comparably old age adds historical significance to the ruins.
Thus, the future of the ruins became something complex. In September 2008, a group of urban planning architects from within and outside China arrived and investigated the site, and their perspectives triggered thought and debate on the subject of the ruins.
Concerning the future of the ruins, Dong Dong, a Ph.D. candidate at an U.S.-based university, interviewed three of the visiting foreign architects.
Interviewee: Garrett Avery, San Diego, California, U.S.
Question: How would you describe the site?
Answer: We call it a “post-industry” site. It borders water, quite similar to San Diego, where we also have waterside factories, which symbolize a kind of tradition. This place was previously a factory, which may have been used for manufacturing, cargo warehousing or transportation. Its identity incorporates an “industrial” property. It is now a relic of industry, so rather than a thorough elimination, it’s better to leave it to be admired and appreciated, and to perceive its meaning to the city of the bygone era.
Question: How would you design this site, if you are assigned the project?
Answer: Whether from the visual angle, or the architectural angle, these oil tanks function like a kind of “gate,” which conveys not only cultural meaning, but also historical value. And this stuff is very cool, very interesting. I think it’s important to conserve these things, because even if we try all means to reconstruct these, it is barely possible to have their real meaning reproduced. It’s always vital to keep history on our road of progression.
Question: Do you do the same in San Diego?
Answer: I think so, if it is allowed. The question of San Diego is that it is a comparably new city, with a history of just 200 years; so there is hardly real “history” to be conserved. But Guangzhou is 2,000 years old.
Question: You said this place is a product of “post-industrial age,” and similarly, San Diego is also in the “post-industrial age.” Then, is there any comparability between the two? And, what is the symbolic meaning?
Answer: The conception of developing this site is not limited to this location, but is applicable to the entire Guangzhou City. To observe the city as a whole, this place is of symbolic meaning. It provides an opportunity for integration. For those who want to redevelop the city, what will the city change into? What kind of new methods should be adopted to rearrange those scattered city fragments, while not losing the nature of the city and her history? These are undoubtedly important questions to consider.
Interviewee: Andrew Watson, landscape architect, Manchester, U.K.
Question: What do you think is unique about this location?
Answer: These oil tanks are very unique, very interesting.
Question: What is a point of interest using the criteria of a landscape architect?
Answer: A place of interest provides varying three-dimensional elements for the surrounding landscapes. On this site, there are many low plants and damaged buildings. The oil tanks are huge three-dimensional objects, which provide visual focus for designers. This not only represents the past days of industry, but can also be reutilized in design.
Question: How will you apply your design skills?
Answer: Personally, I think this place can be designed as a kind of “industrial park.” In Europe, especially in Germany, there are many such cases. People turned the previous industrial spaces into public parks, but conserved the original structure and revitalized the remaining tradition by incorporating functional and recreational amenities, so that citizens can enjoy themselves and have a leisure time there. Yesterday I climbed atop one oil tank, and it was a lot of fun. From above, I saw the neighboring parts of the city, and the angle was pretty good. But (such an experience) is also horrifying.
Interviewee: April Jackson, U.S.
Question: Would you please introduce yourself first?
Answer: I’m from Chicago. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, I entered the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and obtained master’s degree in architecture and urban planning. So, I was educated in both architecture and urban planning.
Question: Is there a difference in the science of architecture between US and China?
Answer: Quite different. In the U.S., we more value the architectural concept that is combined with landscapes, but here in China, it seems that everything is related to urban planning, like high-density population and urban reconstruction. In the U.S., we don’t have such development plans.
Question: You’ve conducted an investigation on the site; what’s your first impression?
Answer: I had a more detailed observation of this riverside location. I was amazed by the scope it covers, or the degree of opening. There is a waste factory, a very broad opening space. I was impressed by such a large undeveloped area within this fast-growing city.
Question: What would you do to renovate this place?
Answer: Well, right now, we are considering how to best preserve the local environment. This includes the preservation of some buildings, recycling according to local condition, conserving the population diversity, and how to add in other factors, such as new lifestyles and tourist attractions, while maintaining the current population number. You know, some people probably hesitate to leave. So, we are still exploring how to settle these issues on the basis of keeping the local residents.
We are planning to make this place a landmark gateway to the riverscapes. After planning and development, a pedestrian street can be constructed here, to attract tourists as a scenic spot.
Question: Similar to the navy dock in Chicago?
Answer: Yes, just like a wharf for navy. With not only land passages, but also a plank road for observing waterscapes, it will be revived as a tourist and sightseeing destination, a real scenic spot.
Question: As a city planning architect, how do you think this place should be renovated?
Answer: I think we should consider how to infuse new lifestyles and new individualities while preserving the unique culture of this place. It’s not a taking of the existing things, but a contribution to the better. In the meantime we have it modernized; we’ll also need to preserve its previous historical environment and culture.
Background Info
Asiatic Huadi Warehouse Site: Located at 29 Chongkou Xinlian Road, Guangzhou City, it was originally an oil warehouse constructed in 1906 by British Asiatic Petroleum Company, covering an area of 33,000 square meters. It is near the Pearl River in the east, the Dachongkou Warehouse of Guangzhou Municipal Port Administration in the south, the Fangcun Avenue in the west, and the site of a German church in the north.
Preserved are two office buildings, three old warehouses, four large metal oil tanks, a riverside dock, and a sand-drain lid labeled with British “Shell” brand.
The main office building, located at the entrance to the warehouses, was constructed in the early 1900s, while the other office building dates back to the 1920s.
The No.1 warehouse, on the right side of the main office building, was constructed in the early 1910s, and the No.2 and No.3 warehouses, connected to each other on the west of the main office building, were constructed in the 1930s.
The four cylinder-shaped metal oil tanks were erected in 1918, and when the Japanese aggressors captured Guangzhou in the 1930s, a defensive wall was constructed. The wall is about two meters away from the tanks, 0.6 meters in thickness, and similar to the height of the oil tanks.
The iron sand-drain lid was a British product, etched with the trademark of a “Shell.”
