El dominio público en la Legislación comparada

The culture of a city includes, according to C, “the unique urban atmosphere, cultural public service facilities, ocean culture, local folk-customs, and local products” (Interview II, 2015).

Paying attention to culture is essential for keeping the unique local characters of a city, as stated by D, “Culture is the soul of a city” (Interview IV, 2015). This section examines the willingness of stakeholders to protect local culture, i.e. original neighbourhood, customs, and other tangible and intangible local features, by analysing the academic study of local culture, local traditional culture, and cultural appropriation.

Academic study of local culture

As discussed previously (Chapter 6.2.1), local government shows less confidence when it comes to trusting local professionals. Moreover, because of the decreased level of involvement of local professions, there is less concern as to the exploration and adoption of local culture. Indeed, local authorities have a notable lack of consideration for local culture – only inviting local professions to join in with the process of planning work at a late juncture. As C noted,

“After the (approval of) Master Plan (by Tianjin Municipal Government), we were invited to make a plan of ecological culture of Tianjin Eco-city, which is not an essential part of Plan-making” (Interview II, 2015).

Although culture was noted to be a part of eco-city development, there are still only a limited number of local cultural resources and collaborations to underpin research into the effect of culture. According to the interview with officer L, less emphasis was paid to the cultural dimension, because “There were originally only two local villages in the Tianjin Eco-city, which are demolished eventually” (Interview I, 2015).

However, based on interviews with scholars and planners, there is still a certain culture worth exploring. C showed interest in developing the local cultural conservation areas of the two villages to provide a memorable place of original culture for local residents and migrants by stating:

“Compared with the heritage conservation in Western countries, it is more difficult to maintain the buildings of both villages (for political and cultural reasons). Although both villages were (demolished for the reason of) the poor condition of the buildings,

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the buildings are still the symbols of original residents” (Interview II, 2015)

Moreover, according to the Master Plan of Tianjin Eco-city, both the villages of Qingtuozi and Wuqi, including the road system and historic landscape, need to be conserved (SSTEAC, 2008b, chapter 11, section 2.4.2). Unfortunately, the two villages were not preserved. The planning was rejected, or changed, to a large extent, as stated by C: “Local authority has only built the Ecological Valley¹² with some historic sculptures, which are proposed in the culture planning.” (Interview II, 2015). C also explained the reason why it is a loss that Tianjin Eco-city demolished the two buildings, stating:

“The function of the two buildings is same as the salt culture, what the Eco-city lacks the most – the opportunity to experience the original life and culture of local residents.

It’s gone.” (Interview II, 2015).

Local traditional culture

Research and plan-making in the cultural dimension experience difficulties in the face of the different interests that exist between planners and government officers, as stated by C:

“The process of cultural research did not go so well and eventually finished hastily”

(Interview II, 2015). In fact, Tianjin Eco-city, as a coastal city, has a culture that is related to fishing, the maritime industry, and coastal defence heritage to a large extent (Figure 6.3).

The culture in Tianjin Eco-city was recognised as a part of the culture of the wider region, namely Hangu and Tanggu, and this is derived from the Qing Dynasty (SSTEAC, 2008b, Chapter 11, section 2.6.1). It would be easier, therefore, to conduct the research within a broader area, for instance, the Binhai New District (which comprises Hangu, Tanggu, and Dagang after the adjustment of administrative division in 2009). As C’s statement indicates, since Tianjin Eco-city is located within the Binhai New District, which is also a coastal city, there is some local culture, such as a maritime heritage, ocean-folk customs, and salt culture.¹³ However, the local authority considered seeking something unique in the Tianjin Eco-city, as C stated, “They *the local authority+ intended to avoid outside culture to intrude into the planning of local culture” (Interview II, 2015).

12 Ecological Valley, the name of a park in the Tianjin Eco-city (edited by author).

13 Salt culture: according to C’s interpretation, salt culture is derived from a traditional salt industry, for instance, obtaining salt by evaporating brine (Interview II, 2015).

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Figure 6.3 The tourism resources, fishing industry, and heritage in or near Tianjin Eco-city (Sources: SSTEAC, 2013)

Indeed, there is a limited unique local culture to be explored in Tianjin Eco-city. The culture related to the ocean could be similar to that of counterpart areas nearby. In order to make the local culture more distinguishable, it would be better to appropriate and develop the similar culture of neighbouring areas.

Cultural appropriation

With regard to strategic planning in Binhai New District, Tianjin Eco-city was planned to develop tourism and the exhibition and convention industries. Compared to other places that focused on large-scale industries, Tianjin Eco-city has the potential to play a role in exhibiting the culture of the whole of Binhai New District, including salt culture, harbour culture, and other navigation-related cultures, instead of being limited to solely a local culture. Especially after the planning documents were published in 2014, the Coastal Tourism Area (100 Km²), to the east of Tianjin Eco-city, became one of the areas under the operation of SSTEAC (Yu, 2015) (Figure 6.4).

B. Ancient Cannon of the Chengtougu Fort

D. Shell Bank

F. Oyster Reef C. Remains of the Chengtougou

Fort, built in 1840 A. Caijiapu Fishing Port

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Figure 6.4 The adjustment of administrative division of Tianjin Eco-city in 2014

(Sources: Tianjin Daily, 2009; Tianjin Municipal Government, 2005b, Baidu Map, 2017a, map edited by author)

According to L, the new administrative district of SSTEAC contains the original Tianjin Eco-city, the Coastal Tourism Area and a fishing port area. Therefore, the Eco-city will take greater responsibility for developing tourism based on the local resources of the ocean and the harbour. Under the context of modified planning, therefore, it becomes more important to appropriate and integrate the culture of Binhai New District rather than just focus on the culture within Tianjin Eco-city.

6.2.4. The environmental performance of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city