Yangzhou Power Plant ReDesign
Reimagining an existing power plant as a culturally sensitive, energy-smart riverfront landmark.
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Problem
The Yangzhou power plant, built decades ago, stands as a stark industrial structure on the riverfront directly across from the culturally significant Three Mountains of Zhenjiang. While it plays an essential role in energy generation, its heavy chimneys and scattered volumes dominate the skyline, disrupt the visual harmony of the historic landscape, and contribute heat, noise, and glare to the surrounding environment. The site offers no public interface, no ecological integration, and no educational or cultural value beyond its industrial function. As energy infrastructure ages, its lack of alignment with contemporary values—environmental responsibility, community connection, and design sensitivity—has become increasingly visible.
Solution
This proposal reimagines the existing power plant as a symbol of renewal, transforming it from an isolated industrial object into an integrated, human-centered landmark. A lightweight tensile mesh system inspired by local fishing nets and the flowing profile of the Three Mountains softens the plant’s massing while reducing heat gain and moderating wind pressures on its structures. The design weaves in shaded promenades, native plantings, and small learning spaces that reveal how energy is produced while fostering comfort and curiosity. Solar ribbons, heat recovery features, and smart metering displays demonstrate sustainable upgrades without disrupting operations. By merging performance improvements with cultural storytelling, the plant becomes both a functioning energy facility and a civic space that contributes beauty, ecology, and public understanding to the riverfront.
From its conception, this project set out to redefine how large-scale industrial infrastructure can coexist with culture, ecology, and public life. The Yangzhou Power Plant, built decades ago on the banks of the Yangtze River, was never designed to be seen as part of the landscape. Its towering chimneys and rigid geometry stood in stark contrast to the soft contours of the Three Mountains across the river. Rather than erasing this structure, the vision was to transform it — to show that even legacy industrial sites can evolve into places of beauty, sustainability, and cultural meaning.
The project began with a deep investigation into the challenges and opportunities surrounding the plant. The team studied sightlines from historic viewpoints, mapped the visual impact of the chimneys, and examined how heat, noise, and wind from the facility affected its surroundings. Beyond environmental performance, they explored how the plant could become more than machinery — how it might educate, inspire, and welcome people rather than repel them. This exploration reframed the plant not as an obstacle to hide, but as a foundation to build upon.
Drawing from these insights, the proposal envisioned a lightweight tensile mesh system draped around the plant, echoing the forms of fishing nets and the silhouette of the distant mountains. This mesh would soften the industrial massing, reduce solar gain, and create shaded microclimates for people and vegetation. The design wove in riverside walkways, native plantings, and small educational pavilions, turning the once-closed facility into an open civic space. Photovoltaic ribbons, heat recovery systems, and real-time energy dashboards were introduced to bring sustainable technologies visibly into daily operation.
Since its proposal, this concept has shifted how the power plant is perceived — not as an outdated structure, but as a prototype for how existing infrastructure can evolve. It suggests that industrial sites can become places of pride, connecting technological heritage with cultural identity and environmental responsibility. This project stands as an example of how design can bridge function and humanity, proving that even the most rigid structures can be reshaped to reflect the values of the future.
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This aerial view shows the Yangzhou Power Plant on the banks of the Yangtze River, surrounded by industrial facilities and shipping docks. The site is dominated by dense structures, tall chimneys, and open storage yards with little vegetation, standing visually isolated from the riverfront and nearby city.
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This design wraps the power plant in a flowing canopy whose peaks echo the silhouette of the nearby Three Mountains, blending the industrial site into its cultural landscape.
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This illustration shows the view from a nearby historic pavilion overlooking the Yangtze River, where the redesigned power plant appears in the distance. Its flowing canopy blends with the horizon, softening the industrial site and harmonizing it with the traditional cultural landscape seen from this popular tourist spot.
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