Students from the Polytechnic University and a university in Xi'an have presented concepts for the renovation of a park in China

The final project defenses of the international project marathon «Reconstruction of Industrial Facilities using V. G. Shukhov’s Spatial Structures» took place at the Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU). The event was co-organized by ICE SPbPU and Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (People’s Republic of China).

The project marathon proved to be not only international but also interdisciplinary, bringing together students from various fields of study for collaborative work. A total of 40 students from the Russian and Chinese sides took part.

At the conclusion of the intensive work, the participants presented comprehensive renovation concepts for the industrial territory of the «Historical Steel Plant» industrial park in Xi’an, in which the structural solutions of the Russian engineer Vladimir Shukhov were creatively reinterpreted. The development of the projects was a direct result of an off-site session, during which the students familiarized themselves with the site in person and underwent a series of consultations with instructors from the School of Architecture of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology.

In the final presentation, the Russian and Chinese students presented integrated solutions for the organization of the architectural environment and the adaptation of unused industrial workshops to modern functions. The developed concepts include the creation of open public spaces and variable scenarios for the functional use of the buildings, ranging from public-business zones and co-working spaces to exhibition galleries and multifunctional cultural and leisure areas with universal halls and catering facilities.

Structural solutions inspired by Vladimir Shukhov’s ideas are employed in the organization of summer pavilions and lightweight spatial coverings, as well as in the transitions between building blocks.

At the end of the formal project defense ceremony, all participants of the project marathon and team leaders were presented with letters of appreciation.