Making New Heritage: Cultural event-driven regeneration of postindustrial spaces in Shenzhen

Industrial heritage regeneration in China faces challenges in evoking place and cultural identities due to the rigid interpretations of the cultural policies, and existing academic research lacks a perspective that contextualizes these issues. This paper aims to fill the gap by examining the unique industrial heritage regeneration practice in Shenzhen of South China. Firstly, this paper sets the scene to elucidate its uniqueness by telling the narrative of Shenzhen as a migrant city. Using case study and architects’ interviews, it then explores Shenzhen’s innovative approach of integrating urban planning and spontaneous urban practice, driven by a cultural event, to revitalize its industrial legacy. It redefines the widely accepted connotation of “industrial heritage” within a broader context, focuses on Shenzhen’s unique culture-driven regeneration model, and facilitates Shenzhen’s transition from former “world factory” to a post-industrial, design-driven, and socially engaged new economy. Lastly, this paper applies the theory of cultural capital to explain the role of the architects in engaging with multiple stakeholders to enhance the value of post-industrial spaces. The paper argues that Shenzhen’s unique urban curation practice not only accelerates the production of a “new heritage” identity among its citizens but also expand the role of architect.