Page 9 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Suzhou heritage building reuse

levels, as well as undesignated buildings of historical sustainable adaptation, cultural identity, environmental
value within the core historic district of the World benefits, and economic contribution. Approaching from
Heritage City. In 2019, the National Cultural Heritage a circular economy perspective and considering four
Administration published the Guidelines for the Open sustainability dimensions — social, cultural, economic,
Use of Heritage Buildings (The National Cultural Heritage and environmental — Bosone et al. (2021) developed a
Administration, 2019). Subsequently, in 2020, the first six 40-criteria evaluation framework for circular cultural
National Demonstration Zones for the Protection and heritage adaptive reuse. Arfa et al. (2022), based on an
Use of Cultural Heritage were set up, including Suzhou, analysis of jury reports from prestigious award in the
China (The National Cultural Heritage Administration, Netherlands and Europe, proposed using six umbrella
2020). These initiatives aim to analyze exemplary practices criteria — social value creation, cultural enhancement,
and expand their implementation across a broader region architectural enhancement, environmental sustainability,
(Suzhou Government, 2021). The current study will economic value creation, and innovation — to assess the
explore model practices for the reuse of heritage buildings effectiveness of adaptive reuse projects, aiming to guide
in line with the promotion of the National Demonstration and enhance the reuse process. Most recently, Vafaie et al.
Zones. (2023), following the PRISMA guidelines, conducted
a systematic review of a vast body of literature to gain
With the increasing emphasis on heritage reuse alongside
conservation, related research has gradually emerged in a thorough understanding of the factors contributing
China. Emerging studies show that various perspectives, to the success or failure of heritage reuse. The results
dimensions, and factors are considered when assessing were categorized into 10 success factors: architectural,
the results of reuse projects in China. For example, Liang structural, socio-cultural, economic, environmental,
(2011) evaluated the adaptive reuse of old buildings using energy-related, authenticity, legal, management, and
five elements: sustainable development, preservation of functional considerations. A list of assessment criteria and
historical and cultural values, the possibility of renewing the a summary of keywords are listed in Table 1.
building life cycle, economic feasibility, and social benefits. In summary, the increasing focus on reuse projects
Zheng & Zhang (2015) summarized eight project evaluation at national and international levels underscores the
criteria based on the criteria of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific importance attributed to the interpretation of historical,
Cultural Heritage Conservation Award, including sound cultural, and artistic values. Notably, there is growing
conservation administration, adaptation to regional attention toward social benefits and technical design,
conditions, project completion enhancement, building followed by economic benefits, management and operation
performance improvement, humanistic environment aspects, and finally, sustainability and environmental
enhancement, public participation encouragement, considerations. It is important to recognize the inherent
information platform utility, and emergency response connection between management and economic benefits,
strategy development. Tian et al. (2016) conducted a as well as the overlapping emphasis between management
study on industrial heritage, evaluating the effectiveness and social benefits.
of reuse from six perspectives: social impact, resource and
environment, economic benefits, management system, 1.3. Methodology
operational conditions, and historical culture. Jiang (2017) This article proposes the utilization of a combination
focused on modern heritage, employing eight criteria for of research methods across different stages, including
assessment, including historical cultural continuity, public literature survey, fieldwork research, case study analysis,
image improvement, functional usage improvement, spatial quantitative and qualitative analysis, and inductive
form optimization, artistic esthetics elevation, indoor and reasoning. By synthesizing various literature, the study
outdoor environment enhancement, green and sustainable offers in-depth insights into the current research status of
transformation, and economic benefits improvement. heritage reuse evaluation criteria, providing a theoretical
Wang (2022) used five major perspectives — history, foundation for the subsequent summarization and
society, culture, art, and economy — to evaluate and study generalization of the heritage reuse pathways in Suzhou,
the reuse of modern industrial heritage. China. At the same time, the article reports an in-depth
Extensive international research has been conducted on examination of implemented heritage reuse cases through
the evaluation of the effectiveness of reuse projects. Elsorady case study analysis, aiming to distill practical experiences
(2014) assessed the compatibility of heritage for new uses and offer specific guidance.
in eight aspects: architectural integrity, public perception, Regarding data collection, primary documentary
formal and physical characteristics, architectural function, sources were obtained from the Suzhou Cultural Heritage

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2158