Revitalization of post-industrial land Brownfield transformation in Xi'an through environmental-led regeneration

Brownfield is becoming a more and more dangerous and urgent problem during China’s fast urbanization process. Based on environmental, economic and social problems, it is important to find a sustainable method for post-industrial land redevelopment instead of current “top-down” mode. The main research question is: What alternative strategies and ecological-led regeneration should be used to revitalize derelict industrial zone in Xi'an city, balancing the emerging needs from both the city and local inhabitants especially laid-off workers of state-owned industries to tackle with brownfield pollution and to realize spatial and economic transition? The thesis researched deindustrialization based on eastern and western context as theoretical background, urban regeneration theories and global case studies as guiding principle for strategic processing. The strategic alternatives at city-level give a typological based collective regeneration. A comprehensive strategy tries to gradually transform brownfields inside and surround Xi’an brownfield belt zone. The collective strategy will be reflected and tested by two sites which one is classified to “Urgent, led by government” level, and the other one is classified to “Less polluted, led by PPPs Model”. The thesis project tries to find a sustainable transformation method towards brownfields issue in China.EMU European Postgraduate Masters in UrbanismUrbanismArchitecture and The Built Environmen