Narrating Urban Transformation: The Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture and the Making of Industrial Heritage in Shenzhen

Cultural events have emerged as a powerful tool for industrial heritage regeneration worldwide, evidenced by initiatives like International Building Exhibition Emscher Park and the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Among these, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture (UABB) represents a distinctive model that synergizes urban planning, market forces and public participation to transform China's reform-era industrial legacy into vibrant cultural hubs. Through an examination of the UABB's 17-year curation practice, this study reveals how architects, acting as curators, leverage the biennale to valorise idle industrial spaces and transform these once-ordinary structures into recognized “industrial heritage” while constructing narratives about the city’s urban transformation. As Shenzhen transforms from a “world factory” to a design-driven and socially engaged creative economy, its experiences offer insights for emerging cities in the world seeking to balance heritage preservation with sustainable development. The findings advocate for an expanded understanding of built environment value with the heritagization perspective, necessitating new legislation grounded in localized conditions to preserve heritage for the future.