uf design rebuilds alleyways in yangming ancient town preserving local heritage

UF Design Restores Fuqian Road’s Historic Fabric in Yangming

UF Design’s project on the west section of Fuqian Road in Yangming Ancient Town, Yuyao, focuses on the careful restoration of the area’s historic fabric. Through an in-depth study of Yuyao’s architectural traditions and regional historical practices, the design team employed field surveys and research to create a foundation for reconstructing the district’s cultural heritage.

Reinterpreting the site’s original commercial vibrancy, the design balances historical preservation with contemporary business needs. Modern materials and methods were used to repair and renovate damaged structures, maintaining the street’s traditional scale while meeting the demands of present-day commerce. This approach renews the street’s appearance while preserving its architectural roots.

UF Design incorporates historical construction methods

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, rapid and unstructured development disrupted Fuqian Road’s historical continuity, leading to the loss of traditional structures and elements like bricks, tiles, and water vats. To address this, the design team undertook extensive fieldwork, mapping, and interviews with local residents to gather primary data and oral stories. This research informed the restoration of alleyways, courtyards, and pathways, incorporating historical construction methods from nearby towns within a 300-kilometer radius of Yuyao.

Preserved elements such as original gates, water vats, and newspaper boxes were carefully maintained, while more deteriorated features like bricks and tiles were restored and reintegrated, closely aligned with the site’s historical context. This project deviates from typical standardized commercial transformation models often seen in tourism-driven urban projects, opting instead for an approach rooted in the preservation of local memory and heritage.

With a community-centered approach, the design team incorporated two residential homes at the request of their occupants, performing minimal renovations to maintain a harmonious relationship with the neighborhood’s history and the community. Through empathy and engagement, the project achieves a thoughtful renewal that respects both the city’s historical narrative and its residents.

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project info:

name: The West Section of Fuqian Road at Yangming Ancient Town
architect: UF Design

lead designer: Zhixi Ouyang , Jie Xiao

location: Yuyao, China

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