Hangzhou Oil Refinery Factory Park,
project: MVRDV
Dutch architectural firm MVRDV has won a competition to design the revitalization of a former oil refinery site in Hangzhou. The centerpiece of the project will be a modern art and science museum that will become the focal point of this transformation. It will transform the former industrial district, located at the southern end of China's Grand Canal, into a modern cultural center. The development also includes office and retail spaces, which will be located in a green environment.
Modernization of a park after a former oil refinery factory in Hangzhou - project visualization
© MVRDV
The transformation of the Grand Canal
into a community-accessible space
The Grand Canal, which is the longest and one of the oldest artificial waterways in the world, was built in part to strengthen economic ties between southern and northern China. Efforts are now underway to transform its entire length into a community-accessible space. The new concept calls for millions of residents living along the 1,700-kilometer-long canal to use its resources and benefit from its proximity to water.
Upgrading a park after a former oil refinery plant in Hangzhou
© MVRDV
The transformation of an industrial site
in Hangzhou into a cultural space
and energy sustainable
Hangzhou is located at the southern end of the Grand Canal, and the approximately 18-hectare area where the oil refinery once operated is part of the artery's industrial history. After the refinery closed, most of the buildings that once occupied the area were demolished, but some large refinery facilities and oil tanks still remain. The project developed by MVRDV aims to demonstrate the potential of transforming industrial facilities into cultural spaces. In addition, the project incorporates the integration of renewable energy sources, exemplifying the transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy solutions.
Modernization of a park after a former oil refinery factory in Hangzhou - a view of existing buildings that will be preserved and transformed into office or retail spaces
© MVRDV
cylindrical museum
As the heart of a modern cultural park
The centerpiece of the park will be the Arts and Science Center, a modern museum whose cylindrical form will reference the silos that once dominated the area. The simple exterior will conceal a complex internal structure: above the circular exhibition hall, partially sunk into the ground, will rise an irregularly spaced arrangement of long rectangular blocks. These spaces will house artists' studios, offices and business premises. The upper areas of these spaces will form terraces, connected by stairs and bridges. They will be used for performances, large-format installations and other cultural events.
Modernization of a park after a former oil refinery factory in Hangzhou - the centerpiece of the park will become a cylindrical Arts and Science Center
© Engram
Building facade as part of
passive heating and cooling of the building
The museum's façade is designed to be permeable, allowing air to flow naturally through the building structure. As a result, the interior will undergo passive heating and cooling processes, with minimal temperature fluctuations that will depend on weather conditions. The façade space will also act as a thermal barrier, which will significantly reduce the energy demand required to maintain optimal temperatures in the usable spaces inside the building.
Upgrading a park after a former oil refinery plant in Hangzhou
© MIR
exterior structure as a tool to promote
and sustainable development
The building's façade will be equipped with LEDs to transform it into an interactive light surface. After dark, it will become a carrier of visual content, while performing entertainment and informational functions, including the promotion of events held at the facility. In addition, the facade will be covered with thousands of miniature photovoltaic panels, which will effectively convert solar energy into electricity, contributing to sustainable energy management in the building.
Modernization of a park after a former oil refinery factory in Hangzhou - a model of the body of the Arts and Science Center
©MVRDV
As a planet, we realize that we need to move away from oil on a massive scale. This, however, begs the question: what to do with all the infrastructure that was created in the era of the oil industry? On the one hand, it is tempting to make a definitive break with the past, while on the other hand, the vision of a future built on the ruins of past structures seems romantic. In this project, we manage to combine both approaches: we preserve elements of the old industrial infrastructure, while the new structures, clearly distinguishable from the historical ones, point to a better, more sustainable future. Former "fossils" of industry are being transformed into energy drums.
- Says Winy Maas, co-founder of the MVRDV studio.
Upgrading a park after a former oil refinery plant in Hangzhou
© MVRDV
Revitalization of park space
and adaptation of industrial facilities to new functions
In the rest of the park, existing buildings will be preserved and converted into office or retail spaces. Many of the buildings that were previously demolished will be rebuilt in a modern form, retaining their original dimensions, but using glass and photovoltaic panels, such as those used in the museum's façade. By using technology to turn any newly created space into an energy source, the park can become energy neutral, generating surplus energy that will be transferred to the grid.
Modernization of the park after the former oil refinery factory in Hangzhou - visualization of the bird's eye view of the park
© MVRDV
preservation of industrial structures
The refinery's towers will be preserved and integrated into the park's space, while stairs and platforms will allow visitors to enjoy views of the surrounding landscape. The project expands the functional possibilities of the site, including numerous silos that will gain new uses. Some of them will be transformed, while others will be reconstructed.
Compiled by Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of MVRDV studio.