From Remains to Heritage: An Overview of the Landscape-oriented Development of Industrial Sites

Since the Renaissance, the discovery and development of ancient ruins aesthetics have laid an aesthetic foundation for the identification of industrial site values. As the traditional industry gradually retreated to the historical background, industrial sites, by virtues of their sublime beauty, have showcased their cultural values and connotations, and there arises the “industrial archaeology”. Industrial sites have gradually developed from industrial monuments to industrial heritage, and transformed from mere aesthetic carriers to an important component of regional and even national cultural heritage. Industrial sites have great potential for redevelopment and reuse, and landscape-oriented development is an important means for their protection and reuse. To date, the landscape-oriented development of industrial sites has gone through four stages, which are as follows: 1) The beginning of the industrial transformation period featuring “picturesque” treatment of quarries; 2) The industrial monument period featuring land art development and application of the monumental perspective; 3) The industrial heritage proposal period featuring limited landscape design under the “museumization” trend; 4) The industrial landscape period featuring landscape architecture-led holistic protection and stratified activation. In the end, in view of the dissemination of the value concept, the establishment of the legal mechanism and dynamic development, this paper puts forward suggestions and prospects for the landscape-oriented development of industrial sites. Through the sustainable, organic and integrated approaches of landscape architecture, we will witness the variable value of industrial sites as heritage.