Canal Hub 1958 / Shenzhen Huahui Design

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The Imprint of History. The Canal Hub 1958 project is situated on the former site of the Wuxi Iron and Steel Plant, located along the ancient canal. The historical district along the ancient canal has a rich history, carrying the legacy of Wuxi's early settlers who lived by the river, established the city along the water, and relied on the river for their livelihoods. It has nurtured distinctive features such as the Turtleback City and the Qingming Bridge Water Alleys, representing the unique culture of the Jiangnan Canal Water Town. The predecessor of the steel plant was the Wuxi Local State-owned Iron and Steel United Company, founded in 1958, and it has always been a pivotal industrial landmark enterprise in Wuxi. This place carries important memories of the city's development and records the struggles and dreams of a generation. As the bustling scenes of the past have faded away, today, the steel plant stands silently in a corner of the city. Within the site, several remaining factory structures have become a kind of monumental relic, juxtaposed against the grand structures and densely clustered old buildings along the ancient canal. On the other side of the city road, a new high-rise urban community has emerged. Given such a site with multiple interfaces, various scales, and a mix of cultures, the challenge lies in how to revitalize and regenerate an industrial relic into a vibrant urban area with a focus on culture, commerce, and tourism, serving as its core. After assessment, it has been determined that two factory buildings within the redline boundary have a relatively complete and valuable historical significance for preservation. Among them, the exterior of Factory Building No. 1, with its red brick walls and distinctive pattern of perforated bricks, showcases unique architectural features. Meanwhile, Factory Building No. 3, spanning over 200 meters and occupying a significant portion of the site, stands as a dominant presence. Beyond the strong order created by the continuous columns and roof trusses, the horizontal prefabricated sunshades made of exposed concrete exhibit a sense of strength and rhythm while embodying industrial aesthetics, reflecting the design and construction standards of the era.