MVRDV has emerged victorious in the competition to reimagine the Hangzhou Oil Refinery Factory Park, an erstwhile industrial district located near the southern terminus of China's historic Grand Canal. The project envisions a vibrant cultural hub with a captivating art and science museum at its core, complemented by offices, retail spaces, and a green environment seamlessly intertwined with remnants of the past.The Grand Canal, renowned as the world's longest and one of the oldest artificial waterways, once served to bolster economic connections between China's northern and southern regions. Today, China is undertaking an ambitious transformation of the entire canal, converting its industrial infrastructure into a social asset that grants access to the water and provides enjoyment for the millions of residents along its 1,700-kilometer length.Situated at the southernmost point of the canal, Hangzhou holds historical significance, and the approximately 18-hectare site, formerly occupied by an oil refinery, symbolizes the canal's rich heritage. The refinery has now ceased operations, with most of its structures demolished. However, some large refinery buildings and oil storage drums remain. MVRDV, in collaboration with Openfabric, has designed the site with the canal's future in mind, showcasing the potential of transforming industrial spaces into cultural havens. Furthermore, the design seamlessly integrates renewable energy sources, setting an example for the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable power.At the heart of the park stands the Art and Sci-tech Centre, an extraordinary museum resembling an enlarged version of the silos that once dotted the site. The museum's simple cylindrical exterior conceals a complex interior. Above a partially submerged circular exhibition hall, a playful arrangement of elongated rectangular boxes houses artists' studios, offices, and commercial spaces. These box-shaped structures form interconnected terraces accessible via stairs and bridges, fostering public engagement within the museum and enabling large-scale installations, performances, and events.The museum's permeable outer façade facilitates natural ventilation, allowing gentle breezes to flow through the structure. This passive heating and cooling system ensures that the interior space fluctuates slightly in temperature, adapting to prevailing weather conditions while significantly reducing the energy required for climate control within the boxes.The museum's façade, adorned with a multitude of LEDs, illuminates the night sky, creating a captivating media façade that can entertain visitors and showcase the events taking place within. Additionally, the façade incorporates thousands of small photovoltaic spots, harnessing solar energy. These spots form a "solar painting" designed with a parametric approach, maximizing solar exposure, prevailing winds, and prominent views to optimize photovoltaic placement."As a planet, we recognize the need for a massive transition away from oil," says Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV. "However, we are faced with the question of what to do with the vast infrastructure that was created. It is tempting to completely break away from history, but it is equally romantic to envision a future that builds upon the remnants of the past. With this project, we accomplish both: incorporating the old industrial structures while showcasing a better, more sustainable future. The old 'fossils' are transformed into vibrant energy sources."The remaining structures in the park are repurposed as offices and retail spaces, preserving their original form while infusing them with a modern aesthetic. Demolished structures are meticulously reconstructed using glass and integrating the same photovoltaic spots found on the museum's façade. To complete the masterplan's program, a cluster of new office buildings is strategically positioned in the southeast of the site. By ensuring that every newly constructed surface doubles as an energy generator, the park can become energy-negative, contributing surplus energy to the grid.The park's natural elements are designed as a parametric forest, where criteria such as shading capabilities, food production, and biodiversity contribute to the algorithmic placement of different species. This innovative approach fosters a symbiotic relationship within the park's forest landscape.The towering structures of the refinery buildings are preserved and integrated into the park's topography, offering scenic viewpoints from stairs and platforms. The proposal also presents a catalog of potential uses for the site's numerous silos. Some are transformed from their original state, others are reconstructed, and some are symbolized by circular paving. These revitalized structures ensure that the park remains vibrant, providing visitors with engaging experiences even after sunset.The project is a collaboration between Hangzhou Grand Canal Protection Development and Construction Group and Hangzhou Chenxiang Industrial Heritage Comprehensive Protection and Development Co. Ltd.
MVRDV has emerged victorious in the competition to reimagine the Hangzhou Oil Refinery Factory Park, an erstwhile industrial district located near the southern terminus of China's historic Grand Canal. The project envisions a vibrant cultural hub with a captivating art and science museum at its core, complemented by offices, retail spaces, and a green environment seamlessly intertwined with remnants of the past.The Grand Canal, renowned as the world's longest and one of the oldest artificial waterways, once served to bolster economic connections between China's northern and southern regions. Today, China is undertaking an ambitious transformation of the entire canal, converting its industrial infrastructure into a social asset that grants access to the water and provides enjoyment for the millions of residents along its 1,700-kilometer length.Situated at the southernmost point of the canal, Hangzhou holds historical significance, and the approximately 18-hectare site, formerly occupied by an oil refinery, symbolizes the canal's rich heritage. The refinery has now ceased operations, with most of its structures demolished. However, some large refinery buildings and oil storage drums remain. MVRDV, in collaboration with Openfabric, has designed the site with the canal's future in mind, showcasing the potential of transforming industrial spaces into cultural havens. Furthermore, the design seamlessly integrates renewable energy sources, setting an example for the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable power.At the heart of the park stands the Art and Sci-tech Centre, an extraordinary museum resembling an enlarged version of the silos that once dotted the site. The museum's simple cylindrical exterior conceals a complex interior. Above a partially submerged circular exhibition hall, a playful arrangement of elongated rectangular boxes houses artists' studios, offices, and commercial spaces. These box-shaped structures form interconnected terraces accessible via stairs and bridges, fostering public engagement within the museum and enabling large-scale installations, performances, and events.The museum's permeable outer façade facilitates natural ventilation, allowing gentle breezes to flow through the structure. This passive heating and cooling system ensures that the interior space fluctuates slightly in temperature, adapting to prevailing weather conditions while significantly reducing the energy required for climate control within the boxes.The museum's façade, adorned with a multitude of LEDs, illuminates the night sky, creating a captivating media façade that can entertain visitors and showcase the events taking place within. Additionally, the façade incorporates thousands of small photovoltaic spots, harnessing solar energy. These spots form a "solar painting" designed with a parametric approach, maximizing solar exposure, prevailing winds, and prominent views to optimize photovoltaic placement."As a planet, we recognize the need for a massive transition away from oil," says Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV. "However, we are faced with the question of what to do with the vast infrastructure that was created. It is tempting to completely break away from history, but it is equally romantic to envision a future that builds upon the remnants of the past. With this project, we accomplish both: incorporating the old industrial structures while showcasing a better, more sustainable future. The old 'fossils' are transformed into vibrant energy sources."The remaining structures in the park are repurposed as offices and retail spaces, preserving their original form while infusing them with a modern aesthetic. Demolished structures are meticulously reconstructed using glass and integrating the same photovoltaic spots found on the museum's façade. To complete the masterplan's program, a cluster of new office buildings is strategically positioned in the southeast of the site. By ensuring that every newly constructed surface doubles as an energy generator, the park can become energy-negative, contributing surplus energy to the grid.The park's natural elements are designed as a parametric forest, where criteria such as shading capabilities, food production, and biodiversity contribute to the algorithmic placement of different species. This innovative approach fosters a symbiotic relationship within the park's forest landscape.The towering structures of the refinery buildings are preserved and integrated into the park's topography, offering scenic viewpoints from stairs and platforms. The proposal also presents a catalog of potential uses for the site's numerous silos. Some are transformed from their original state, others are reconstructed, and some are symbolized by circular paving. These revitalized structures ensure that the park remains vibrant, providing visitors with engaging experiences even after sunset.The project is a collaboration between Hangzhou Grand Canal Protection Development and Construction Group and Hangzhou Chenxiang Industrial Heritage Comprehensive Protection and Development Co. Ltd.
