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Open Access 2025 | OriginalPaper | Buchkapitel

A Practical Study of Elastic Design Concepts in Mixed Space Remodeling of Old Factory Buildings

verfasst von : Shengsi Li, Han Wang

Erschienen in: Advances in the Integration of Technology and the Built Environment

Verlag: Springer Nature Singapore

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Abstract

Das Kapitel vertieft das transformative Potenzial elastischer Designkonzepte beim Umbau alter Fabrikgebäude und betont die Bedeutung von Anpassungsfähigkeit und Nachhaltigkeit in der urbanen Architektur. Es stellt das Konzept hybrider Räume vor, die räumliche, funktionale und operative Dimensionen verschmelzen, um vielseitige und interaktive Umgebungen zu schaffen. Der Text überprüft bestehende Forschungsergebnisse und zeigt Lücken im aktuellen Verständnis auf, wie flexible Gestaltung mit kulturellem Erbe und nachhaltiger Stadtentwicklung zu verbinden ist. Schlüsselprinzipien wie Flexibilität, Offenheit, Mehrdeutigkeit und Wachstum werden untersucht und veranschaulichen, wie diese angewendet werden können, um widerstandsfähige Räume zu schaffen, die sich mit sich verändernden Bedürfnissen entwickeln. Das Kapitel enthält detaillierte Fallstudien, darunter das Shanghai International Fashion Center Renovation Project und M + Happy Mile in Shanghai, die erfolgreiche Implementierungen von elastischem hybriden Raumdesign zeigen. Diese Beispiele zeigen die praktische Anwendung widerstandsfähiger Gestaltungsprinzipien und verdeutlichen das Potenzial alter Fabrikgebäude, zu lebendigen, multifunktionalen Räumen zu werden, die zur kulturellen und wirtschaftlichen Vitalität städtischer Gebiete beitragen. Die Schlussfolgerung unterstreicht die Bedeutung widerstandsfähigen Designs für die Stadterneuerung und betont ihre Rolle bei der Schaffung interaktiver und anpassungsfähiger Räume, die das städtische Raumsystem verbessern.

1 Relevant Concepts and Definitions

1.1 Resilient Design

The word ‘‘elasticity’’ originally belongs to the category of mechanics, which refers to the elastic deformation of an object within a certain limit through the action of force. Derived to space design, it contains multiple meanings. The first is variability, the second is a transition relationship, and the last is a self-repair ability [1]. We should have elastic thinking in the design process, in order to meet the future diversity of spatial needs and at the same time to play the spatial production of the ability to change and functional interchangeability.
Mies van der Rohe first mentioned this concept in ‘‘Universal Space’’ [1], where he advocated considering the role of uncertainty in design as much as possible, emphasizing the invariance of form and the variability of function. Nowadays, the scope and depth of the application of elastic design concepts in the field of urban architecture is also expanding. Major cities have explored the practice of hybrid space transformation of old factory buildings and actively promoted the application of elastic design concept.

1.2 Hybrid Space

Mixed space, as a new type of space form in urban public space, is a space concept gradually derived in the context of urban renewal and old factory building renovation. The author believes that hybrid space can be divided into three dimensions: spatial hybridization, functional hybridization and operational hybridization.

1.3 Current Status of Domestic and Overseas Research and Literature Review

The concept of resilient design for the transformation of mixed spaces in old factory buildings has attracted some attention. Existing studies have shown the resilient design of public plazas, which adapts the plaza space to different activity needs through the introduction of movable furniture and fixtures. Haohao Yuan studied the resilient design of industrial park buildings under the perspective of industry-city integration, which is realised through multi-functional space layout and variable resilient design [1].
Based on the above research and analysis, it can be seen that at this stage, although there is some research on the mixed space transformation and flexible design concept of old factory buildings, there is still a gap in the research on the chain linkage between the transformation of old factory buildings and the heritage of the urban culture and the sustainable development of the city with the design of flexible space, and this is yet to be perfected.

2 Survival of Old Factory Buildings

Old factory buildings are witnesses to the trajectory of China's industrial development and products of the history of urban development. In recent years, as the country promotes the high-quality development of economy and society, many cities’ high-pollution, high-energy-consuming and high-water-consuming industries have been gradually eliminated, and part of the industrial plants have been left idle. How to revitalize this part of the sleeping, potential assets, so that the “industrial rust belt” into a “life show belt” [1], and maximize its value, and promote the old factory buildings on the road of sustainable development of the resilience of the road, the quality of urban development has become a complex reality facing the proposition.

3 Intervention of Elastic Hybrid Space Design Principles in Urban Architecture

3.1 Flexibility in Space Changes

In the transformation of hybrid spaces in old factory buildings, the principle of flexibility can be defined as the adaptability and adjustability of the space, enabling the space to meet diverse functional and activity needs [2]. This principle requires designers to adopt movable and adjustable design elements, which can be reconfigured according to the inclination of the functions and needs of the mixed space, and divide the space many times, so that the local space can be maximized without altering the pattern of the hard space.

3.2 Openness of Spatial Layout

The principle of openness refers to the degree of spatial openness and interactivity with the public, which can provide the public with diversified shared spaces [2]. Firstly, it requires designers to create continuous, inclusive and flowing spatial forms in order to effectively enhance the frequency of people's socialization and interaction; secondly, the design should have larger open interfaces and platforms, and introduce interactive mediums in terms of visual scales and visual accessibility [3]; in addition, it should organically combine architectural space with nature, leading to multi-dimensional sustainable development [3].

3.3 Ambiguity of Spatial Boundaries

The ambiguity in the hybrid space transformation of the old factory building is the uncertainty of the boundary [2], and the functionality of the space is divided into a number of panels by the interactive medium and then linked by various open channels, forming a “soft boundary” effect, which makes the building and the environment to be integrated as a whole.

3.4 Growth of Spatial Functions

The principle of growth in resilient design is crucial in the design process of a space [2]. This principle emphasizes the sustainability of the space, so that the space can adapt to the changes of the times; moreover, renewable materials and energy-saving technologies should be selected for the construction materials, so that the human intervention can shape a hybrid space with the potential for growth and expandability.

4 Mixed Space Transformation Practice in Old Factory Buildings

4.1 Shanghai International Fashion Center Renovation Project

Fig. 1.
Aerial view of Fashion Center South
(Source: Drawn by the author)
Fig. 2.
Flex space at the main entrance
(Source: Taken by the author)
Fig. 3.
Sectional view of a sawtooth-shaped plant
(Source: Drawn by the author)
The project, formerly known as the 17th National Cotton Factory, an important textile organization of the Shanghai Textile Group, is located at No. 2866 Yangshupu Road, Yangpu District, at the end of the southern section of the 100-year industrial exhibition area along the banks of the Huangpu River.
As shown in Fig. 1, the industrial park is divided into six functional zones, forming an important elastic axis running through the center of the north and south and extending to the edge of the Huangpu River (Figs. 2 and 3).
The architectural style of the sawtooth factory buildings in the industrial park is very prominent, whether from the practicality or from the aesthetics of the building and its unique historical value, the maintenance and renovation program is based on the main principles of preservation, restoration, reconstruction, and adaptive reuse in the early stage of the project [5].
While respecting the original spatial texture, in order to echo the principle of openness in the flexible design, the entrance along the main axis has done a local gray space treatment, breaking the dullness of the original industrial manufacturing plant street space, forming an interesting space more in line with the requirements of modern business [6]. In the appropriate parts of the interspersed embellishment of modern methods of small volume buildings, mapping out the modern tribute to history and dialog.

4.2 M+Happy Mile, Panyu Road, Shanghai

This case adopts the typical survey method in field research, as shown in Fig. 6, located at No. 381 Panyu Road in Changning District, named after its proximity to Happiness Road. As a closed and dilapidated old factory building, the design team hopes to realize the transformation of the closed space of the old factory building into a new landmark public hybrid space for arts and culture through the implantation of lilong culture.
The main street of the park is a shortcut that connects two urban roads and inevitably accommodates pedestrian traffic. 10 m wide, the street separates the pedestrian zone from the terrace zone. It is divided by a shallow pond with landscaping and sidewalks on the south side. The shallow pool does more than divide the space of the main street. The reflective nature of the water enhances the depth of the space; the dynamic nature of the water enlivens the commercial atmosphere; and in practice, it has been found that people actively interact with the water, which adds a little fun to their daily lives and fully reflects the openness and elasticity of the space (Figs. 4 and 5).
Fig. 4.
Node modification 1
(Source: Taken by the author)
Fig. 5.
Node modification 2
(Source: Taken by the author)
Fig. 6.
Location plan
(Source: Drawn by the author)
For the node transformation of elastic mixed space, a typical example is the installation of rainwater corridor within the main street to strengthen the internal connection of the park. Based on an analysis of the building conditions, the second floor of the building located on the south side of the east section of Main Street, where heavy equipment was installed during the Institute's use, has a cast-in-place floor slab unlike the prefabricated form of the other floor slabs. Taking advantage of this structure, we made a picket on the outside of the floor slab. The roof expands the commercial area of the second floor while also creating a gray space underneath that provides shade from the sun and rain. This indirectly creates a resilient hybrid space that enhances the openness and flexibility of the space. On the other side of the main street mid-block, the building has a shallow depth. As the first-floor space was converted into street level storefronts, this space was released to the outdoors and the façade was set back to create a space similar to a riding tower, thus echoing the growth of the resilient design.

5 Conclusion

The pursuit of spiritual civilization in the new era has prompted people to pay more and more attention to the social, functional and cultural aspects of space. As an important carrier of industrial history, cultural heritage and social aesthetics, the old factory buildings, in the connection with the accelerated urbanization of the contemporary era, have proved in several successful practice cases that it is necessary to introduce the concept of resilient design so that it can be synchronized with the urban cultural lineage and the style of the times.
The urban regeneration model established through this can produce interactive places that accommodate and stimulate more possible behaviours and events, bridging, repairing, activating and reshaping the urban spatial system. At the same time, it is foreseeable that the concept of resilient design will be more and more applied to urban regeneration and spatial design, and in the process of spatial practice, the concept will eventually become a “companion” for people's spatial design remodelling.
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Metadaten
Titel
A Practical Study of Elastic Design Concepts in Mixed Space Remodeling of Old Factory Buildings
verfasst von
Shengsi Li
Han Wang
Copyright-Jahr
2025
Verlag
Springer Nature Singapore
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4749-1_7