Rehabilitation for Shenyang Dongmaoku Warehouses

Next to Shenyang North Railway Station, Dongmaoku is the first-generation warehouse park of PRC, which has been in use since 1951. However, the value of Dongmaoku has been ignored due to the isolated logistics park. Until recently, when this area was planned to be renovated and required some demolition, the architectural value of Dongmaoku is uncovered and seven warehouses in the park were selected as listed historical buildings to be preserved. There are three challenges during the renovation process: how to highlight the use-value of the historical heritage through planning? How to show the architecture beauty through design? How to solve the problem between the reuse and the current coding through the structural technic? This project is located in an old industrial zone. With the concept of spatial justice, the original idea is taking advantage of the high-level estate development projects to promote the living quality of the old city and to realize space equality in urban renewal. Two old warehouses are jointed as a hundred meters long community center, which created an open park for people to visit. The connecting part abstracts the roof truss of the old warehouse nave, where a marriage registration hall is planned here in the future. The form of an auditorium defines a romantic and elegant entrance and makes the simple and unadorned old warehouse stand out. To bring warm feelings to the northeast cold weather, an interior green garden could be found in two warehouses. The entrance uses the themes of "Maze Reading Park" and "Garden of Eden" to construct a new typology of greenhouse in reusing large spaces. The original wooden structure is replaced with the new steel structure system to satisfy the new structural and fire codes. Through the integration of meticulous cultural preservation design, structural design, and construction design, this system conversion is visually maintaining the integrity of the original structure. The internal functions not only serve the estate marketing but also contribute to the communications, which enlarge the charming of the old warehouse.