refurbishment

This project responds to Nanping Village’s unique cultural identity centered on “image” (photography and film), transforming the Cheng Family Ancestral Hall into a hybrid public space that integrates villagers’ leisure activities, cultural events, and a public library. The design strictly adheres to heritage conservation requirements, introducing new functions to meet diverse needs without altering the ancestral hall’s main structure.

Project Background and Site Understanding — The site is located on an elevated riverside plot along the Wuxi River in Wangcunkou Town, Suichang County, Zhejiang Province, descending toward a natural stone riverbank. Historically, it served as an important water transportation dock during the Ming and Qing dynasties and later became an active area of revolutionary history. With the shift of time, the site has remained abandoned for many years. Although the village is structured along the river, most of the riverbank is occupied by residential buildings, leaving little public access to the water. The renovated house sits between a small plaza and the riverbank, and its enclosed condition had long blocked villagers’ approach to the water. The design goal therefore emerged clearly: to transform “separation” into “connection” by renewing the old house and releasing an openly accessible waterfront public space for the community.