Strategies for Activating Historic District: Micro-reform Implement in Qiulin District, Harbin

Abstract

This paper explores urban strategies that address existing problems in Qiulin District, which is famous as a historic district with plenty of cultural memories in Harbin, China. In the paper, it firstly introduces the definition of historic district and made a brief review of academic literatures about space activation. It then takes Qiulin District in Harbin as a case to further discuss the current dilemma. In terms of land use, Qiulin District is primarily commercial and residential that increases the difficulty of activating this area. In accordance with demonstrated issues: 1) heritage buildings with limited value capture, 2) diverse business types challenged with urgent upgrading, 3) multiple high-quality resources utilized in weak synergy, it proposes three main strategies to solve problems. With introducing the concept of micro-reform, the strategies: 1) activate heritage buildings to recapture historic value, 2) extend outdoor space and upgrade commercial structure to enhance characteristic streets, 3) design for fun life to build inclusive network, compressively explore a number of possibilities to reflect the current situation and achieve visionary planning. Finally, this paper draws discussion about the significance of space activation for historic districts towards environmental sustainability and human beings.