The Reform and Opening Up policies have both advanced and disrupted traditional industries in China. The 'melamine milk powder' incident a decade ago has left Chinese consumers wary of domestic products. In Shenzhen, capitalists' exploitation of ranches and docks shifted workers from being the primary force in the economy. The rise of e-commerce and tourism has further transformed Shenzhen's industrial landscape, sidelining workers as the majority group and exacerbating economic inequality.
This project investigates the role of architecture in redefining the factory system within this evolving economic framework. By reimagining factory operations and incorporating key industries in Shenzhen, the project seeks to address the challenges of low land use efficiency, optimize production processes, and enhance workers' living conditions. It proposes a model where tourism and technology are integrated into workers' lives, not as replacements but as enhancements. By restoring the factory system and reaffirming workers' self-worth, the project aims to alleviate social conflict and rebuild trust in domestic products.
"A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude."- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World