The UK-Wuhan Historic District Creative Redevelopment Seminar kicked off in Wuhan on December 19, 2016. This event was hosted by the British Embassy in China and British Consulate-General Wuhan under the assistance of the Foreign Affairs Office of Wuhan Municipal Government.

　　This Seminar is one of the most important events organized during the “UK Creative Week”. Over 60 specialists, scholars, and representatives from governmental agencies and enterprises from UK and Wuhan have exchanged their opinions about the protection and reuse of historical buildings, as well as the creative redevelopment of historical districts in Wuhan during this event.

　　Spoke at the opening ceremony of this Seminar, Stephen Ellison (Minister-Counselor of the Department for International Trade of British Embassy in China) stated that many excellent historical buildings have been restored and redeveloped and he hoped that British experts and architectural design enterprises can provide professional support and innovative plans for the sustainable development of historic districts in Wuhan.

　　Duncan McCallum, the Policy Director of Historic England, shared the experience of transforming historical buildings in UK. He also suggested that the restoration and redevelopment of historical buildings should follow the principle of fitting new buildings with old ones and retaining the imprint left by time on buildings. He also pointed out that the community and the public should be mobilized to participate into the protection and development of buildings.

　　According to Wu Weitao, a partner of Foster + Partners, street culture is a part of Wuhan culture and it is comparable with the European square culture. Therefore, the history of neighborhoods should be explored deeply, the popular street culture should be respected, and the principle of being people-oriented should be followed during the process of protecting and reusing historical buildings.

　　Wuhan is a nationally famous historic and cultural city with 281 officially protected cultural relics of the municipal level or higher, and 181 registered outstanding historic buildings of the municipal level. There are 4 old urban districts such as the Hankou Concession and Hanzheng Street, as well as16 historic and cultural streets such as the Qingdao Road and Tanhualin District in Wuhan. Wuhan has made many efforts in protecting and redeveloping historic buildings in recent years.

　　“UK Creative Week” aims to promote the creativity and innovation cooperation between UK and Wuhan. Many activities related to educational cooperation, cultural inheritance, music and art reproduction, tourism innovation and creative redevelopment of historical districts have been organized by UK and Wuhan during this event.
 
 
Link: http://www.chinanews.com/cul/2016/12-19/8098544.shtml