Current World Environment

Introduction

Since the industrial revolution, technology is constantly evolving with industrial practices. Technological innovation, advances in the automotive industry, reduction in transportation costs, and developments in the deindustrialization trend of the urban environment have led to the relocation of industrial centers from urban cores to marginal agricultural land (Stratton, 2000).

One of the outcomes of the relocation of industries is the broad expanse of land remaining from relocated industrial sites in urban cores which are characterized by rich green spaces, old buildings, and some elements relating to large factories and workshops (Snyder, 2005). The preservation of such areas as a symbol of the history of modernism and the old industrial heritage in Iran under the name of industrial heritage links the contemporary era to the past and strengthens the spirit of place in this connection which is the result of responding to the public needs and maintaining close relationships in the neighborhood over time and can be considered as a space of collective experience and memory.

Industrial heritage, compared to other forms of recognized heritage, constitutes a relatively new field (Cho et al.,2014).Heritage protection is an integral part of the development of urban culture. Adaptive reuse of heritage encourages new cultures and contributes to the achievement of the double goal of cultural innovation and economic development (Langston et al.,2007). Economic development is the most important dimension of physical development. One of the most important factors that affect physical development is the presence or absence of urban infrastructure which is the basis for urban infill development (Fakhr Ahmadi et al., 2008).

In the area of social planning and design, cultural considerations emerge from discussing social sustainability and social capital. One neglected aspect in discussions on sustainability is the social and cultural potential of adaptive reuse that generously contributes to the protection of industrial heritage and ensures the cultural maintenance of the past, the present and the future (Roseland et al.,2005). Modern adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites that have lost their function contributes to the improvement of social sustainability and cultural potential and leads to social cohesion through respect for cultural capital as an important part of the social potential by maintaining a shared collective identity (Blockley et al.,1999).

Opportunities for adaptive reuse of industrial heritage in urban cores support sustainability and smart development initiatives that focus on urban infill development and are an attempt to reduce urban sprawl (Hawkes, 2003). However, physical reuse and functional restructuring, adaptive reuse of industrial heritage based on the needs and requirements of the post-industrial society, and economic revitalization through injecting new types of land use for improving the share-profitability of industrial buildings are among issues that have been raised in relation to industrial heritage (Langston et al.,2008).

Yiftachel and Hedgcock (1993) (Yiftachel et al.,1993), Tweed and Sutherland (2007) (Tweed et al.,2007), and Yung and Chan (2012) (Yung et al.,2012) conducted extensive research on industrial heritage and methods of protecting it that leads to sustainability. The studies conducted by Tweed and Sutherland (2007) and Yung and Chan (2012) on the international level show how the concepts of sustainability and the conservation of industrial heritage can contribute to global sustainability. Tweed and Sutherland (2007) have a more comprehensive approach to industrial heritage and sustainability and consider them as symbols of social sustainability in their research. They underscored the link between industrial heritage and enhanced quality of life and their role in defining location area identity. Yiftachel and Hedgcock (1993) in their study move beyond the studies by Tweed and Sutherland (2007) and Yung and Chan (2012) by focusing on one of the pillars of sustainability - sustainable urban communities.

In view of the foregoing discussion and by understanding that the recognition of the potentials and limitations of industrial sites can have a constructive influence on urban infill development policies in the social sphere, in this article we try to answer the following questions. What are the potentials and limitations of the reuse of Shokoofeh Babol Vegetable Oil Company? And, what are the possible strategies for the reuse of this factory that lead to the reinforcement and promotion of urban infill development policies in the social sphere of Babol city, Iran? In this study, we attempt to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats from the view of experts in relation to the importance of industrial heritage and its role in sustainable urban and social development. Finally, with regard to these views, we provide strategies and solutions based on the SWOT model in order to take optimized and targeted advantage of the strengths and opportunities and eliminate the weaknesses and threats for the achievement of sustainable urban development through adaptive reuse of industrial heritage.

Case Study

Shokoofeh Babol Vegetable Oil Company is located in an area of 22 thousand square meters in the third historic layer of the development of the city of Babol (1965). The building goes back to the second period of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1959 and was constructed and operated under the supervision of Russian engineers. The company is located in the neighborhood of Ahangar Kola and, for its expansiveness, is adjacent to a variety of land use including education (elementary school), higher education (University of Babol), cultural (Najarian library), religious (Ahangar Kola mosque), and administrative, medical, engineering and residential complexes. The designing principles of this complex are fully consistent with the principles of vernacular architecture and texture and its characteristics such as a special exterior brickwork and plaster work have given it a dimension beyond its mere industrial appearance. This area is on the agenda of the fifth commission of the municipality of Babol.

Figure1: Location of the site in the layers of urban development and its adjacencies   Click here to View figure

Methodology

We used the SWOT model to design a strategic plan for this study. The following steps have been taken to implement this model in the study:

By conducting surveys on the internal and external environments of Shokoofeh Babol Vegetable Oil Company, we identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In order to build an analytical model, we weighted the factors by expert evaluations. We asked more than 20 professionals with at least a master’s degree in the fields of architecture, urban design, and maintenance and repair of historic buildings for their comments on the internal and external factors affecting urban infill development policies on a Likert scale with an approach to social sustainability and considering the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage in this complex. The data extracted in the process related to internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) are presented in the table of internal factors evaluation referred to as IFE (Table 1) and the findings related to external factors (opportunities and threats) are presented in the table of external factors evaluation referred to as EFE (Table 2).

In the first column of both tables, we developed a list of internal and external factors. The second column presents the primary factor and the third column presents the weighted means for each of the factors listed in the tables such that the sum of the weights belonging to IFE and EFE becomes normal and equal to one in each table. The fourth column represents the rank and rating of each factor as follows: We rated each item from 5 (=very high) to 1 (=very low) based on the opinions of the respondents and ranked the factors from 1 (=low) to 4 (=high) proportional to their initial mean value. The fifth column presents the final coefficient of each factor which is calculated by multiplying the values of the third column by the values of the fourth column. Finally, we calculated the overall final coefficient of the complex under review.

Table1: Internal factor evaluation (IFE)

Table2: External factor evaluation (EFE)

After completing the tables of internal factor evaluation (IFE) and external factor evaluation (EFE) known as data entry, the IFE and EFE tables needed to be integrated with each other (Table 3). This stage was carried out to explain the strategies based on internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats). Upon completion of this stage and after the review and synthesis of SWOT parameters, we achieved four conceivable strategies, including: Aggressive strategies (SO), Competitive strategies (ST), Defensive strategies (WT) and Conservative strategies (WO). By defining a strategic factor evaluation matrix, it was found that the results need to be analyzed in the environment of aggressive strategies (Figure 2). In order to develop effective strategies in an aggressive environment, we tried to think of operational strategies in the synthetic phase using EFE and IFE listed in the tables. Accordingly, we devised eight aggressive strategies, four competitive strategies, five conservative strategies, and three defensive strategies (Table 3).

Figure2: Strategic factor evaluation matrix   Click here to View figure

Table3: Synthesis of internal and external factors   Click here to View figure

Results and Discussions

Based on the theoretical sources of the research and the field studies that have been conducted to provide strategies and solutions for adaptive reuse of industrial heritage to encourage urban infill development policies with an approach to social sustainability, we determined urban and architectural capacities and constraints of Shokoofeh Babol Vegetable Oil Company by the SWOT model and propose practical solutions and strategies. Analysis of the findings in relation to strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (according to Table 3, the prioritization and ranking of internal and external factors from the view of respondents) shows that:

A: From among the strengths of the case under study, the variable of “geographic features of cultural locations in the site such as a sense of history (the past) and progress (present and future)” has been determined as the most important factor. In order to optimize the use of this factor, we emphasize urban regeneration of the criterion culture.

B: From among the weaknesses of the case under study, the variable of “lack of infrastructure to provide transportation and parking lots in Ahangar Kola neighborhood and narrow paths in distressed areas adjacent to the site” has been determined as the most important factor. In order to eliminate this weakness, we can utilize the expansiveness of the site in designing appropriate edges in relation to the urban fabric.

C: From among the external opportunities in the case under study, the variable of “Babol city’s location in the third historic layer of development (1965), the potential of the site as heritage and the application of urban regeneration strategies for the promotion of sustainable urban infill development” is prior to the other variables. In this context, we can optimize the use of this factor by considering the aggressive strategies presented in Table 3.

D: From among the external threats in the case under study, the variable of “lack of favorable economic efficiency of operations by the Municipality as a result of injecting socio-cultural land use to increase density and the injection of business land use” is prior to the other variables. To eliminate this threat, we can refer to the competitive strategies presented in Table 3.

Having said this all, we can conclude that the regeneration of the criterion culture as an approach to urban infill development – with such basic concepts as the use of innovative economic areas and the so-called creative industries – can prepare the ground for a content and function whereby the superstructure is constituted by cultural and social currents and the base is constituted by economical and efficient mechanisms. This can be achieved through respect for the old spaces and the creation of proportionate new spaces in the internal fabrics and cores of urban areas. Such a perspective will lead to a form of synergy in objectives and constitutes a means for urban regeneration (Lotfi, 2011).

References

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