Preservation and Rehabilitation of Macao Industrial Heritage: A Case Study of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory

In the late 1950s, the firecracker industry was the largest industry in Macao and provided many work opportunities for the local population. However, the industry declined eventually, and those factories closed down one after another and the industry ceased in the 1980s. The Iec Long Firecracker Factory was one of the largest firecracker factories, and it is the only remaining site in Macao that still stands. It brought significant values, in terms of economic, historical, and culture, to Macao.
Preservation and rehabilitation of the Iec Long would is the theme of this thesis. We aim to balance preservation and rehabilitation and provide a feasible solution that could be implemented by the Government. What we propose should care for with reality and people’s demand. Public participation is the key to success of rehabilitation, and so balancing the interests and demands of all parties will be a core approach of this thesis.
After reviewing the literature and the histories, we will conduct a SWOT analysis of the Iec Long to assess its position and future potential. Afterward, we will conduct a survey of Macao citizens and interviews with industry professionals to understand the views and demands of Macao citizens, as well as professional advice. Following that, we will explore similar renovation experiences of other cities, see what their advantages, disadvantages, were and what we could learn from their experiences.
Through the survey, we will assess whether citizens support the rehabilitation of the Iec Long and if they agree to renovate it as Cultural and Creative Industry facilities, as well as to create an Art Centre and Firecracker museum. Cultural and creative professionals in general also support rehabilitation of the Iec Long as aCreative Park, but they mentioned that the details of the execution plan would be crucial for its success. The concept of a Cultural and Creative Park could be an ideal public place
combining history, culture, leisure and art, which can attract more residents and tourists and become an essential part of urban culture.
In the rehabilitation, the historical architecture tells the history of firecrackers, and the modern installations showcase the modern culture of Macao, which will undoubtedly support the development of Macao into a cultural city. This will bring development opportunities to residents, tourists and cultural creative groups. Iec Long is the industrial heritage that can once again remind the unique and prosperous history of Macao. It is also a collective memory of many Taipa citizens. Not only the original structures must be preserved, but also the past stories must be told to the current era. We hope this thesis could provide some insights into the solution to the rehabilitation and preservation of the Iec Long Firecracker Factory.