Industrial Heritage: Regeneration or Preservation
This blog is part of my university assignment about global and cyber heritage, I have decided to look at the issue of industrial heritage and its preservation and if this can be combined with regeneration.
Industrial heritage gives us connection to our past and future in a way that more traditional forms of heritage cannot. Industrial heritage is the story of the people who made nations.
Welcome
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Depends on the scale of the proposed project and /or whether gthe building is in a reusable state. Elements of the works could be retained e.g. Bessemer Converters in Steelworks. I have seen chimneys turned into viewing towers (Jameson's Distillery in Dublin).
Personally in the current climate, I think there is an arguement that the buildings absolutely should be reused. Also as organisations like English Heritage state, these buildings are the character of this country and others. As long as the work is done properly and sympathetically and using traditional skills !!
The re-use of buildings is now considered to be part of the green approach. It saves the 'embodied energy' present, i.e. the time, materials and manufacturing processes it took to create the building. It also limits the amount of demolition debris to dispose of. The issue is that often large spaces need to be divided up in order to fulfill the needs of the new use, this can detract from the overall impact of the building and the loss of its integrity.
again the condition and possable uses for the site must be taken in to acount, but there is no reason why the can not be used in the correct circumstances
Many aspects to consider here - a little mesters shop in Sheffield or the Spruce Goose dome in Long Beach, California? Right next to the Queen Mary btw. Regeneration and re-use to be encouraged as in heritage..
Not all sites lend themselves to renovation / restoration / regeneration. Land is now at a premium and sometimes part of the huge old sties may need to be sacrifices to preserve the most important / meaningful buildings; ie. the significant manufacturing part of a site is worth consideration whereas the old sidings, warehousing, maintenance shops etc., are of lesser value.
If the industry which is being featured was ‘big’ (e.g. steel manufacturing), the scale of the building can be key to understanding the scale of the industry, but the costs and practicality of running a massive site will inevitably be restrictive. Consideration should also be given to the accessibility of a large site, not all visitors will want to or be able to access a large site.
I think so! It depends on the state of the land after production, some sites, depending on location can become modern spaces for art and culture. Some venues are large enough to become sports and music centres. why not use them as this space? it is productive rather then demolishing and building houses!
In some cases buildings, equipment and sites can be suitable to be re-used and preserved. It depends on many factors including merit, practicality, cost etc. There is no single answer to this but wherever possible buildings should be re-used.
Many industrial and manufacturing sites have been re-used/regenerated using the existing fabric, Marshalls yard in Gainsborough is one good local example where the building fabric has been utilised while still providing a link to its industrial heritage.
This is a tough call as your associating a level of emotion to an issue of practicality. Sleaford's Bass Maltings is an ideal example of political infighting, financial restrictions and local support groups who have for the last 30 years fought over the correct and appropriate use of this derelict monument. All of this happens on a regular basis yet without any conclusion.
If, however, a local 'meadowhall' was to be suggested you'd probably discover a result very quickly.
Depends on the scale of the proposed project and /or whether gthe building is in a reusable state. Elements of the works could be retained e.g. Bessemer Converters in Steelworks. I have seen chimneys turned into viewing towers (Jameson's Distillery in Dublin).
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the condition of the buildings and the way the site is interpreted. If they were all taken away, would it deter from the story?
ReplyDeletePersonally in the current climate, I think there is an arguement that the buildings absolutely should be reused. Also as organisations like English Heritage state, these buildings are the character of this country and others. As long as the work is done properly and sympathetically and using traditional skills !!
ReplyDeleteThe re-use of buildings is now considered to be part of the green approach. It saves the 'embodied energy' present, i.e. the time, materials and manufacturing processes it took to create the building. It also limits the amount of demolition debris to dispose of. The issue is that often large spaces need to be divided up in order to fulfill the needs of the new use, this can detract from the overall impact of the building and the loss of its integrity.
ReplyDeleteThis depends on the site, I don't think a blanket answer can be given for all sites like this.
ReplyDeleteIt would depend on the state of the site itself and the cost involved to renovate or rebuild.
ReplyDeleteagain the condition and possable uses for the site must be taken in to acount, but there is no reason why the can not be used in the correct circumstances
ReplyDeleteMany aspects to consider here - a little mesters shop in Sheffield or the Spruce Goose dome in Long Beach, California? Right next to the Queen Mary btw. Regeneration and re-use to be encouraged as in heritage..
ReplyDeleteNot all sites lend themselves to renovation / restoration / regeneration. Land is now at a premium and sometimes part of the huge old sties may need to be sacrifices to preserve the most important / meaningful buildings; ie. the significant manufacturing part of a site is worth consideration whereas the old sidings, warehousing, maintenance shops etc., are of lesser value.
ReplyDeleteIf the industry which is being featured was ‘big’ (e.g. steel manufacturing), the scale of the building can be key to understanding the scale of the industry, but the costs and practicality of running a massive site will inevitably be restrictive. Consideration should also be given to the accessibility of a large site, not all visitors will want to or be able to access a large site.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone else says it depends on the site.
ReplyDeleteI think so! It depends on the state of the land after production, some sites, depending on location can become modern spaces for art and culture.
ReplyDeleteSome venues are large enough to become sports and music centres. why not use them as this space? it is productive rather then demolishing and building houses!
In some cases buildings, equipment and sites can be suitable to be re-used and preserved. It depends on many factors including merit, practicality, cost etc. There is no single answer to this but wherever possible buildings should be re-used.
ReplyDeleteMany industrial and manufacturing sites have been re-used/regenerated using the existing fabric, Marshalls yard in Gainsborough is one good local example where the building fabric has been utilised while still providing a link to its industrial heritage.
ReplyDeleteThis is a tough call as your associating a level of emotion to an issue of practicality. Sleaford's Bass Maltings is an ideal example of political infighting, financial restrictions and local support groups who have for the last 30 years fought over the correct and appropriate use of this derelict monument.
ReplyDeleteAll of this happens on a regular basis yet without any conclusion.
If, however, a local 'meadowhall' was to be suggested you'd probably discover a result very quickly.
It's a pinnickity world !!