The revitalization of an abandoned industrial site takes place at a Xingfa cement factory.
The Jinyu Xingfa Technology Campus & Quarry Park, situated 70km north of central Beijing, is a remarkable testament to the potential of industrial landscapes to be transformed into spaces of contemplation and unexpected beauty. Originally an abandoned cement factory built in the early 1990s, the site has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from an industrial hub into a modern innovation hub and eco-friendly park.
The transformation process began with the preservation of the site's industrial structures, maintaining the historical and cultural identity of the area. Tenacious elms, mulberry, and arborvitae have taken root in the thin soils, while nitrogen-fixing plants have been introduced to rebuild fertility in the soil. The factory, which supplied materials for big-ticket projects such as the 'Bird's Nest' National Stadium, closed in 2015 as part of China's National Air Quality Action Plan.
The site's owners, Beijing Jinyu Group, had a vision for the park to harmonize industrial heritage with natural beauty. SWA, the landscape architects, created a masterplan for the park that incorporates immersive experiences, winding trails, and leisure spaces. The pond requires no artificial replenishment after its initial fill, and the masterplan utilizes the quarries' natural contrasts, with a mirror-flat water feature in the lower basin and an open-air venue in the elevated pit.
The park's transformation from an industrial site to an ecological haven is a significant shift in China's environmental aesthetics. The factory buildings now host innovation laboratories, offices, and technology companies focusing on artificial intelligence development. A thoughtfully designed drainage network captures seasonal downpours and feeds a self-sustaining pond. Native smoke trees and maples add colour to the landscape in autumn and bind the once-barren ground with their roots.
Local stone and shale, as well as salvaged machinery parts, are repurposed in the park's design for walls, seating, paving, sculptures, and signage. The park's design integrates ecology and artistic expression, with an ecological pool in Quarry 1 and scattered stones in Quarry 2 creating a land art zone. The public Quarry Park offers walking trails, water features, and educational signage about the site’s history, ecological restoration, and AI research.
Incorporation of smart lighting, energy monitoring systems, and renewable energy sources (like solar panels) enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. Well-planned pedestrian pathways, bike lanes, and public transport links connect the campus with the surrounding city, encouraging low-carbon mobility. The Jinyu Xingfa Technology Campus & Quarry Park represents a successful fusion of industrial heritage conservation, environmental restoration, and cutting-edge technological innovation.
- The park's transformation has redefined the landscape, integrating the industrial history of the site with the beauty of environmental science, as evidenced by the use of native trees and the creation of ecological pools after the factory's closure due to climate-change action plans.
- In this ecological haven, the repurposed factory buildings now serve as hubs for environmental-science innovation, with technology companies specializing in artificial intelligence development, while at home and in the garden, the park showcases the harmonious integration of ecology and artistic expression in its land art zones and use of local stone and salvaged machinery parts.
