Industrial Icons; A study of the dynamics between iconic heritage development and the redevelopment of brownfields

Abstract

This study has looked into icon development of industrial heritage as strategy in brownfield redevelopment. Icons can be developed in various ways, ranging from strictly conservative preservation to commercial exploitation. This research examines how the application of ‘grounded renewal’ in icon development contributes to the redevelopment of brownfields. In grounded renewal contemporary adjustments are applied that are anchored in the distinctive local hardware and software. By conducting an empirical study, it was found that the development of the icon contributes to value creation in both the materialization and social construction of the brownfield. Through grounded renewal, the icon development is embedded in the urban environment and thus has a functional position in the brownfield cluster.