Recently, the blast Furnace Hall of Hangzhou Steelworks Relic Park, designed by LYCS Architecture, was officially completed and opened to the public. Located on the western side of the park, the exhibition hall has an interior design area of approximately 3,669 square meters. It will serve various functions, including exhibitions, forums, retail, and more.
Hangzhou Steelworks was the first steel plant in Zhejiang Province, established in the 1950s. After nearly 60 years of operation, it officially ceased production in 2015. Once a symbol of industrial pride for Hangzhou, its transformation into the "Hangzhou Steelworks Relic Park" will now serve as an irreplaceable cultural landmark.
In May 2023, the design team set foot on the project site for the first time. The towering concrete columns exuded a silent yet powerful sense of order while light poured through the slag transport channel in the gloomy ceiling. Outside the window, on one side, the red structure designed by Jiakun Architects had already taken shape. In contrast, on the other side, a massive industrial pipeline ran through, filled with a raw and intense industrial atmosphere.
Concerning the unique and irreplaceable historical significance of the Hangzhou Steelworks as the "backbone of the city," the design team proposed the concept of "Preserving historical heritage, interpreting spatial renewal, and weaving memory into the surroundings." Using industrial style as the foundation, the design protects the remnants of the blast furnace pipelines, reinterprets the slag transport system, and organically integrates the Steelworks's history into the city's modern lifestyle. This creates a unique spatial experience that combines landmark significance, artistic expression, and functional versatility.
The blast furnace pipelines on the south side of the hall have been fully preserved, with ground lighting used to create an atmosphere. These elements form a distinctive backdrop for the hall, visible through the glass walls.
The design preserves approximately 70 meters of continuous space, fully showcasing the towering concrete columns. The exposed ceiling approach allows the equipment pipelines to be sculpturally treated, utilizing high-reflective silver ventilation ducts and linear lighting as horizontal elements.This emphasizes the orderly arrangement of the columns, while the contrast between the metal and concrete materials enhances the raw texture of the concrete.
The floor is laid with understated terrazzo, and rusted steel tracks are designed beneath the projection of the linear lighting. A slag train (still under construction) is also preserved, recreating the scene of slag troughs being tipped and transported during the steelmaking process.
The design utilizes steel to modernize the space's functions. The square entrance canopy is crafted from a single steel piece, the ventilation ducts are wrapped in steel sheeting, and the matte steel finish on the walls contrasts with the roof. The interior furnishings are custom-made primarily from steel and leather, while the signage and restrooms feature a rust-colored style. The spectrum of steel, from high-gloss to rust, reflects the history of the Hangzhou Steelworks.
The sparks from steelmaking are etched into the entrance canopy and walls. Against the backdrop of the orange light strips, that era's sparks have never been extinguished.The imagery of history is brought to life through wall-mounted artworks, opening a window to the past with black-and-white photographs, blueprints, and certificates. This immersive experience intertwines old and new timelines. The signage system is also custom-designed with an industrial style, crafting an interior environment that bears the unique "imprint" of the Hangzhou Steelworks.
