Page 18 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Suzhou heritage building reuse

conservation and reuse. For instance, in Zhirenli, Suzhou, with Suzhou’s urban cultural identity and the intrinsic
where homeowners with incomes below certain thresholds characteristics of heritage buildings. It then explores the
cannot afford to conserve their own homes, the Suzhou impact of appropriate value construction on the results of
government has stepped in with dedicated funding for their reuse projects and public feedback.
rehabilitation (Chen, 2008). A prime example is Zhirenli Throughout this research process, the authors
7, where the local government invested a total of 700,000 extensively communicated with frontline architectural
RMB, which accounts for 87% of the overall construction conservation enterprises and practicing conservation
cost. This exemplary form of government support for architects, comprehensively reviewed China’s national
the protection of socially disadvantaged community and Suzhou-specific heritage policies, and examined
members demonstrates a commitment to upholding equal conservation regulations related to the reuse of heritage
rights for urban residents. Beyond targeting individual
buildings, the project has renovated the overall essential buildings. The article addresses the challenges and needs
living infrastructure for the entire community, including of preservation practices and management. In this context,
water supply, electricity, heating, drainage, and disaster conservation enterprises and local governments may
prevention facilities. This initiative aimed to enhance living find this research particularly valuable. By refining and
conditions for the community, achieving the integration clustering common factors in successful reuse projects,
of heritage conservation and reuse as a catalyst for the the study provides a model pathway, guiding enterprises
improvement of residents’ livelihoods. This aligns with to prioritize value interpretation and construction, focus
the growing international interest in the field of heritage on community interests, consider public participation, and
conservation concerning human rights and social equity. avoid unilateral government dominance and commercial
exploitation.
5. Conclusion Given the retrospective nature of this study and the

The sustainable development of World Heritage Cities has researchers’ academic background in architectural history,
emerged as a significant global concern. In the pursuit conservation theory, policy, and design, the research may
of reshaping urban vitality and achieving sustainable not extensively explore certain aspects, such as community
development, many World Heritage Cities have embraced engagement in heritage practice throughout the reuse
heritage reuse as part of their urban renewal strategies. projects. This limitation underscores the importance
Nevertheless, a critical challenge arises in the development of future research adopting a more holistic approach to
process: how to effectively manage the inherent examining architectural heritage reuse, with a greater
contradiction between the unique nature of heritage focus on the perspectives of the community. Although this
preservation and the economic imperative of reuse while study primarily focused on the first step of the pathway
striking a harmonious balance in their development. — value construction — as an illustrative example to
Addressing this challenge has become an urgent priority evaluate Suzhou’s reuse pathway, subsequent research
for World Heritage Cities. will comprehensively assess the effectiveness of the reuse

This retrospective study examined a significant number pathway, aiming to establish a universal quantitative
of reuse projects in Suzhou, narrowing down to a sampling evaluation system. By presenting the Suzhou pathway and
matrix of exemplary projects that received recognition analyzing specific cases, this study aims to offer valuable
and positive feedback from both the government and the insights, innovative concepts, creative local solutions,
public. Various building types were considered, including exploratory assessment methods, and critical discussions
single buildings, larger complexes, and historic districts on revitalizing heritage buildings for other World Heritage
with concentrated heritage buildings, to represent the Cities engaged in the conservation and reuse of heritage
diversity of the sampled projects. The article demonstrates buildings. Ultimately, this study contributes to the global
that in Suzhou, a participant in UNESCO’s World Heritage discourse on architectural heritage conservation in
Cities Program, the challenge of sustainable development World Heritage Cities. It underscores the significance of
has been addressed by balancing conflicting aspects during striking a balance between conservation and sustainable
the heritage reuse process. The authors summarized this urban development, while also fostering a platform for
process into “reuse pathways” as a paradigm within the international communication and collaboration in the
specific context of Suzhou, encompassing three essential field of architectural heritage conservation.
steps: value construction, benefit operation, and technology Acknowledgments
adaptation. In particular, the article examines the rationale
behind various value constructions, correlating them We sincerely thank Suzhou Jicheng Cultural Heritage
with four types of prevalent value advocacy that resonate Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. for their collaboration

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 12 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2158