Yec Long Firework Factory: a Chinese Relic Industrial Architecture
Citation
HKIA journal: the official journal of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (香港建築師學報), no.41, 2005, pp. 52-63
Abstract
The image of Macau heritage is often associated with a cluster of colonial old buildings. However, the large majority of Macau heritage is form Chinese vernacular origin. Chinese community contribution is apparent not only in buildings of the wealthy upper class but also in the contribution of common people manifest in a unique vernacular architecture. This is the case of Yec Long Firecracker Factory in Taipa Island, which stands as the only well preserved survivor of an Industrial Heritage, symbolising the patriotic working class contribution for the progress and development of Macau in the 19th and 20th centuries. Since May 2004, after the successful opening of the Sands casino, the entertaining industry is booming with the construction of new casinos and, as a side effect, the returning of the Real Estate speculation. These are the two main driving forces in the city urban planning and development, which many consider threatening to Macau heritage, now unprotected by the absence of PIU guidelines and a *-transparent check and balance mechanism that could help to preserve the characteristic of historical places like Taipa or Coloane ancient villages. The old Yec Long Firecracker Factory is now in the frontline of the struggle between Macau cultural heritage and the main forces behind urban developments. This article presents the past, the present situation and possible future scenarios of the Factory, benefiting heritage preservation as well improving the Taipa Real Estate economic value and life quality.
(1) Taipa relevance in the history of Macau
(2) Taipa Village Development
(3) Taipa-Macau urban patterns similarity
(4) Taipa historical centre and Yec Long
(5) Yec Long as a model factory
(6) The Yec Long Firework Factory in Macao History
(7) Urban park project and study proposals
(8) Present threrats to Taipa historical centre and Yec Long
(9) Village Plan (PIU) Guidelines (1987), UNESCO and Macao Basic Law
(10) Heritage and patriotism
(11) A refreshing exhibition from Hong Kong
(12) Negative consequences for heritage and real estate development
(13) Conclusion
(14) Acknowledgement
(15) References
Description
Type
Article
Format
Date
2005
Language
en