Creative placemaking in heritage sites. The case of Wudadao, Tianjin, China.

In recent years, creative placemaking has been adopted globally as a strategy for heritage-led urban revitalization. However, this approach is increasingly critiqued for triggering side effects such as gentrification, displacement, and the erosion of community identity. While most research exists on its application in Western, market-driven contexts, significant gaps exist when examining its transfer to other socio-cultural contexts. Specifically, few studies have systematically explained how creative placemaking is governed in China’s heritage conservation. To address these gaps, this research aims to investigate the adaptation and socio-spatial outcomes of creative placemaking within China’s governance context. Focusing on the historic district Wudadao in Tianjin, the study examines the creative placemaking in practice and to what extent it contributes to social sustainability and inclusion.

To address this research aim, the study employs an in-depth case study approach. Based on semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and documentary analysis of Wudadao, this research argues that the creative placemaking process in Wudadao has the potential to lead to a sustainable and inclusive conservation approach, which benefits communities. However, a more inclusive community participation policy and a framework for safeguarding cultural diversity are needed. The findings reveal a hybrid, government-led model that utilises micro-regeneration, generating tangible benefits while avoiding purely market-driven displacement. However, this process risks reinforcing a ‘selective memory’ through its prioritisation of colonial-era architecture and is challenged by bureaucratic complexities, highlighting the need for more effective inter-actor collaboration.

In conclusion, through the in-depth research on Wudadao, this study expands the understanding of creative placemaking theory in heritage conservation. It advances the discourse by identifying and conceptualising the unique governance model in China, thereby moving beyond Western-centric applications and offering a critical lens for examining heritage-led regeneration in comparable contexts.