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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Suzhou heritage building reuse

buildings, aiming to elevate the level of conservation efforts valuable insights for other World Heritage Cities grappling
(Xu & Ying, 2022). The city has also actively promoted with the challenge of harmonizing architectural heritage
public-private partnerships to facilitate the preservation conservation with urban development.
and reuse of heritage buildings (Liu, 2008).
Suzhou government’s commitment to conserving and 3. The reuse pathway of heritage buildings
innovatively reusing heritage buildings is evident in its in Suzhou, China
trajectory of municipal heritage policy-making. From Drawing from extensive case studies, as illustrated later
2002 to 2021, Suzhou implemented 11 policies specifically in the present article, Suzhou’s strategy for the reuse of
aimed at protecting and utilizing its architectural heritage buildings is grounded in several key aspects: a
heritage. These policies have evolved, starting with the comprehensive understanding of their values, efficient
establishment of a new conservation and utilization model, resource utilization, suitable operational models, effective
subsequently integrating it into the planning framework, management processes, and progressive technical support.
and progressively introducing targeted policies (Table 2). To strike a balance between the traditional “specimen”
A retrospective examination of Suzhou’s heritage approach to conservation and the “living” approach
conservation history reveals a clear evolution, with required for urban regeneration, Suzhou renovates
strengthened efforts and the development of a more robust heritage buildings that are deemed unsuitable for their
administration system. original purposes, allowing them to be repurposed. This
Suzhou’s pioneering practice demonstrates that reuse process necessitates a profound respect for the
integrating architectural heritage into urban planning is values of the heritage building (Cong, 2014), which calls
a key to promoting sustainable urban development while for a thorough assessment of its worth as a resource and
preserving the authenticity and integrity of architectural the development of a comprehensive understanding of
heritage. The present article argues that the reuse of its content and significance before initiating the reuse
heritage buildings is an effective strategy for promoting project. Once heritage is transformed into a resource, the
cultural heritage conservation and driving economic subsequent step is to convert these heritage resources into
development. In essence, Suzhou’s accomplishments assets through meticulous planning and construction.
underscore the crucial balance between conservation On being transformed into assets, the built heritage
and sustainable development. These achievements offer resources should be selected according to the different

Table 2. Eleven specific policies for heritage conservation and utilization implemented in Suzhou, China
Period Time Policies Policy names in Chinese
Create new 2002 Regulations on the protection of ancient buildings in Suzhou 苏州市古建筑保护条例
models 2003 Methods of protecting historical and cultural cities and towns 苏州市历史文化名城名镇保护办法
in Suzhou
2003 Suzhou city calendar ancient architecture repair and protection 苏州市古建筑抢修保护实施细则
implementation rules
2004 Suzhou relies on social forces to repair the ancient dwellings of 苏州市市区依靠社会力量抢修保护直管公房古民
the implementation of opinions 居实施意见
2005 Measures for the implementation of the law of China on the 苏州市实施《中华人民共和国文物保护法》办法
protection of cultural relics in Suzhou
Integrate into 2013 Suzhou historical and cultural city protection plan (2013-2030) 苏州历史文化名城保护规划（2013-2030）
urban planning 2016 Suzhou cultural relics protection undertaking “13 Five-Year” 苏州市文物保护事业“十三五”发展规划
th
development plan
2018 Regulations on the Protection of Suzhou National Famous 苏州国家历史文化名城保护条例
Historic and Cultural Cities
Formulate 2018 Pilot Program for the Conservation and Utilization of Historic 苏州市历史建筑保护利用试点工作方案
targeted Buildings in Suzhou
policies 2021 Management Measures for the Protection and Utilization of 苏州市历史建筑保护利用管理办法
Historic Buildings in Suzhou
2021 National Cultural Relics Protection and Utilization 江苏苏州文物建筑国家文物保护利用示范区创建
Demonstration Zone Creation Implementation Plan 实施办法
Source: Table by Qinyi Shi

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2158