urbanfabric design preserves and revives ancient chinese town with modern methods
the project preserves and encapsulates the historical memory of fuqian road for contemporary commercial activity.
urbanfabric design restores Fuqian Road Historic District
UrbanFabric Design breathes new life into the historic street of Fuqian Road at Yangming Ancient Town, reviving the traditional structures using modern materials and design methods. The commercialization project, seeking to enhance to the Chinese neighborhood’s tourism economy and image, is centered around architectural and cultural preservation.
Aiming to encapsulating the historical memory of the site for contemporary commercial activity, the design team carried out extensive research in search of a clear thread of history in the existing complex and disorderly environment, while initiating the sorting and preservation of its historical objects.
reviving historical contexts through modern design
Based on investigation and analysis of historical materials and relevant literature, UrbanFabric Design recreates the original fabric and memory of Fuqian Road. ‘This project deviates from the typical standardized commercial transformation model that is prevalent in projects aimed at growing tourism economies and improving city images,’ notes the team. Instead, it remains sensitive to the street’s overall scale and the lifestyle of its local community while carrying out its restoration process.
Through numerous on-site surveys, mapping projects, and interviews with local residents, UrbanFabric Design collected an ample amount of primary data and oral history documents which guided their concept. Further, research of other nearby historical towns informed the design team’s use of certain modern construction methods and building materials.
The project thus saw the restoration of the original alleyways, walking paths and courtyards in the west section of Fuqian Road. Better-preserved elements such as water vats, gates, and newspaper boxes were maintained in their original state, meanwhile damaged elements, particularly bricks and tiles, were reintegrated into the neighborhood with close adherence to their historical contexts.
UrbanFabric Design further respected the wishes of two residing families by renovating their homes and integrating them into the wider rebirth project of the neighbourhood. ‘Empathy and understanding helped maintain a positive relationship between the city and its residents,’ writes the team.
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project info:
name: The West Section of Fuqian Road at Yangming Ancient Town
location: Yangming Ancient Town, China
architecture: UrbanFabric Design
project lead: Ouyang Zhixi, Xiao Jie
design team: JIA Ting, Yang Jiankai, Wang Zengjie
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
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