Kengo Kuma and Associates have transformed the former Guangzhou Shipyard into Shipyard 1914, a 4,400-square-meter mixed-use complex that preserves the site's historic slipway while incorporating a unique, walkable roofscape made of volcanic stone. The design emphasizes the site's industrial heritage, creating a public space that invites visitors to engage with the landscape and view the Pearl River.
Kengo Kuma's Shipyard 1914 project in Guangzhou exemplifies how to transform post-industrial sites into vibrant cultural spaces by integrating historical elements. Utilizing the original shipyard slipway as a functional and symbolic axis, the design maintains the site's historical narrative while reimagining it as a dynamic public space. This approach highlights the potential for adaptive reuse in architecture, offering a model for designing spaces that honor their past while serving contemporary civic and cultural needs.