In the reclamation of derelict industrial areas it is essential to define the contributions of the urban landscape components, once different approaches to these components, may give different ways to reclaim this landscapes, allowing the use of different design strategies. To specify the different design strategies that may be used in the reclamation of derelict industrial areas three case studies will be presented, each one related with a different strategy. Based on the applied strategy, this thesis will analyze the three case studies: Industrial heritage in Manchester; Distillery District in Toronto; Industrial heritage in Terrassa. In these projects it was found that the adopted design strategies are beneficial to the society, economy and the environment respecting the models of urban recycling. Through the case studies, in this thesis will be present models of financing, method of protecting the industrial heritage and the impact on the environment, economy and society. In the projects specified above it was found that the adopted design strategies minimize the environmental impact, respecting the cultural heritage, improve social conditions and contribute to economic growth. The interest for this thesis is to headline the importance of preserving the industrial heritage and the different methods of its utilization. The research was carried out with the intension to show the variety of possibilities for use of formal industrial districts. The intension was to presented different approaches to resolving the problems of derelict industrial sites and the process of transformation of abandoned and endangered industrial heritage. As an example of good recycling process it will be present cases of reutilization of site and district to cultural, commercial and residential purpose.