Water and industrial architecture. From technological process to aesthetic meaning

Abstract

Water has been one of the natural elements with a major influence in industrial development. Both as an energy source and as a cheap and effective transportation means for materials and products, natural and artificial water courses have influenced not only the layout of industrial buildings, but also their relationship with the urban environment, bringing radical changes in the outlook of cities. Once they cease to function, deserted industries left behind an impressive built heritage. Our study probes into the potential of this natural element as a premise of industrial architecture form, further exploring the possibility of redesigning the relationship between city and water through architectural conversion.