Green trees and red bricks are checkered with sunlight and shadow. Outside the window is a lofty chimney of the old factory, standing in the clouds. Inside the house are shelves of books, emitting the aroma of books in the room. This is the former site of the old Shenyang Metallurgy Machinery Repair Factory, and now it has become a new study. The “authentic” industrial style shows the charm of the integration of industry and culture.
Located in Tiexi District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, Fengtian Factory City’s Study is the only study that is made of red bricks in Shenyang. To retain the “authentic” industrial style, its exterior shape is made of old red bricks from all over the country, which carry the memories of their respective eras, presenting the industrial years in Tiexi District.
Fengtian Factory City’s Study has a square and solemn appearance and inherits the old factory’s characteristics. Pointed roofs, wooden beams, and red bricks remind people who step into it of the industrial era. It is the former site of the old Shenyang Metallurgy Machinery Repair Factory, which was built in the early 20th century. This factory produced the first domestic casting foundry cleaning machine with sandblasting and shot-blasting, and it was a key metallurgy industry enterprise in Shenyang. In 2006, because the city needed to transform and upgrade, this factory that had been “hot” for nearly a century just “cooled down”.
The study takes full advantage of industrial remnants and integrates artistic inspiration into the reading space, forming a unique atmosphere of the old industrial area where “the old style and the new style can coexist”.
The rusty cogs in the study remind people of the city’s past. Every precision part reflects the simple ingenuity, and every ingenious idea extends the readers’ minds. Coincidentally, the old factory’s canteen was built in this area, which continues to provide “spiritual meals” for thousands of readers.
In the house made of old bricks and tiles, many new technologies are showcased. Children’s touch readers, AR self-service kiosks, and book sterilizers allow children to immerse themselves in books with the help of technology. Parent-child pairs can be found everywhere, and preschoolers can also skillfully operate varieties of interactive machines and get the joy of learning from picture books and digital experiences. Digital technology not only enriches the reading experiences and facilitates readers of all ages, but also is a deep interaction between old industries and new technologies.
Apart from the reading space, Fengtian Factory City’s Study also has a cafe, bakery, and other facilities for catering and leisure to help readers enjoy a cozy and comfortable reading experience in the rich aromas of coffee and cake. Besides, the study regularly organizes artistic activities such as poetic gatherings and guqin lectures to meet the cultural needs of Chinese and foreign readers.
When you look up from books and see the blue sky and red bricks, your thoughts will connect the past and the present and your mind will be rich. The study takes the industrial remnants as its body and cultural innovation as its feature. It combines craftsmanship with the aroma of books, nourishes thousands of readers with culture, and creates a unique cultural atmosphere for old industrial cities.
