Speaker
Description
In the context of China’s rapid economic growth and industrial restructuring, enterprises in midwestern development zones are under considerable operational pressure. Following the influx of a large migrant population, these zones have witnessed increasingly diverse consumer and recreational demands. Consequently, certain industrial sites have been spontaneously converted by property owners to commercial uses to accommodate leisure and consumption needs. Adopting an “informal” research perspective, this paper focuses on this phenomenon by examining the spontaneous renewal of industrial spaces, with the aim of investigating the processes and impacts of such transitions, as well as how planning can balance community aspirations and governmental economic objectives.
To this end, this study selects the Jincheng Development Zone in Shanxi Province, China, as a case example. We examine how large-scale shutdowns of traditional local industrial enterprises have led to the spontaneous repurposing of factory buildings into restaurants, karaoke lounges, automotive repair shops, and sports facilities. Through an analysis of the causes and contexts behind these “informal industrial spaces,” we propose a formation mechanism framework that integrates both bottom-up and top-down perspectives across political, social, and market dimensions. The findings reveal: (1) China’s current critical phase of industrial transformation is beset by unresolved planning issues at economic and policy levels, leaving existing land-use planning regulations ill-equipped to regulate such informal spaces; (2) the inadequate provision of living and consumption functions within development zones partly drives the conversion of industrial lands to commercial uses; and (3) these developments highlight the dual contradiction between rapid industrialization and existing planning protocols, as well as between local planning efforts and the diverse needs of the populace.
In light of these insights, this paper advocates moving beyond the traditional approach of merely labeling these sites as “inefficient industrial land.” Instead, it calls for an informal perspective that balances both human-centered and production-centered considerations.
Moreover, this study innovatively introduces “place vitality” and “public service attributes” as key evaluative factors—where the former provides empirical support for spatial repurposing, and the latter confers a degree of moral responsibility to the use of informal industrial spaces. Accordingly, we classify spontaneously converted informal industrial spaces into four types based on their levels of place vitality and public service attributes, and propose a suite of planning and management strategies tailored to each type.
Ultimately, this paper seeks to reflect upon the tensions between formal planning systems and public demands, advocating for the integration of community-driven, spontaneous renewal efforts into planning processes as a means of realizing spatial inclusivity and justice.
| Keywords | informality perspective;reflexive urban governance;inclusiveness;industrial land conversion |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
