Work

Dominant discourses framing the reuse of industrial heritage in the context of mega-events: a relationship matrix approach

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The reuse of industrial heritage sites has become increasingly prevalent in the context of hosting mega-events. This paper aims to investigate this trend, specifically in the context of Olympic Games or World Expos, and its impact on urban regeneration strategies. It introduces a methodological tool, namely, the relationship matrix, to identify key factors from ‘best practices’ criteria for managing industrial sites and planning mega-event legacies. We use this matrix to address two research objectives, namely, to determine the role of industrial heritage reuse in mega-event urban projects and to evaluate whether this creates a favourable environment for place-making. This matrix enables us to compare and analyse the Shanghai 2010 World Expo and the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games as illustrative case studies. While guidelines and strategies for mega-events and industrial heritage have evolved towards a proactive people-centred approach, our findings still reveal a bias towards material renewal in dominant discourses during the planning phase. This bias often overlooks or even excludes the memories and experiences of local communities.

Source: Built Heritage

DOI: 10.1186/s43238-024-00154-z

Authors: Florence Graezer Bideau, Huishu Deng, Helena Roux

Institution: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Language: English

Topic: Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Science Foundation, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung