Historic buildings incorporated into new property projects in China
The Temple House luxury hotel project in Chengdu is an example of heritage being incorporated into property projects on the mainland
The preservation of historic buildings is gaining momentum in Chengdu and other parts of the mainland - a phenomenon that will boost the value and attraction of new property developments in those areas, says a senior executive of a Beijing-based architectural firm.
"The preservation of heritage buildings and what remains of them is a big issue in China today. I expect this trend to continue well into the future," said John Puttick, partner and lead architect in China for architectural firm Make.
"Preservation and renovation of heritage buildings will breathe new life into areas where they're located and even employ new uses for old structures," he said, citing as an example the 798 Art Zone in Beijing.
The zone, also known as Dashanzi Art District, in Beijing's Chaoyang district, hosts a thriving artistic community in 50-year-old decommissioned military factory buildings.
Responding to pleas from artists, the municipal government decided to preserve the old buildings in an area originally known as Joint Factory 718. The centre now contains artists' studios, galleries, shops and cafes.
Puttick said Make was at the forefront of the preservation and renovation of heritage buildings in China, although this was a minor part of its flourishing business on the mainland.