Coop Himmelb(l)au Interview: The relationship between urban renewal and urban planning
Channel: Urban Environment Design
Date: 2020-06-23

Handan, as a famous historical and cultural city with a history of 3100 years, is one of the important initiations of Chinese civilization. In addition, it is one of the "Top Ten Steel Cities" with large steel companies represented by Handan Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd (Hangang), which has played a pivotal role in the industrialization of modern China.
 
Due to the rapid growth of the city, the Handan Iron and Steel plant, which was originally located in the far suburb of Handan City, is now right next to the city center, facing the urgent to transform and renewal.

Under this premises, “The Transformation and Revival of Industrial Heritages” Hangang District Urban Design International Master Competition is thus to achieve the dynamic inheritance and transformation of industrial civilization through creative transformation and innovative design. The competition is sponsored by Hebei Provincial Department of Housing & Urban-Rural Development and Department of Natural Resources of Hebei Province. As Executive and Planning Body of the competition, Urban Environment Design (UED) Magazine have invited 6 master teams in the field for promoting the city’s renewal plan. 

This time we are very lucky to have Benjamin, the project director of Coop Himmelb(l)au. During the interview, He shared his first impression about Hangang and his opinions on the relationship between urban renewal and urban planning.

When he was asked about his first impression of Hangang, he said, “when we did the tour, inside the site the industry is like a city within a city. I believe there are schools, housings, educations even supermarkets. So I believe it is buried deeply in the fabric of the city into the people. Even if the site or the industry move to the outskirt of city, it still be a city’s mental map and people will always relate to that, because that is also something made Handan great.”

When we asked, as a city planner, what does he think of the change between urban renewal and urban planning? 
“Cities in China explored literally, they need more space, so I believe that it is a great opportunity to actually use sites which are in the city parameter which are occupied by different fields, like industry. And revitalize them for extra need of people, for leisure, for entertainment as well. So instead of building new cities, use what you have and find the places in the city.”

Click the video to see more about this interview.