Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Urban revitalization as alternative to demolition

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Urban revitalization as alternative to demolition

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    “If not necessary, don't add entities”, this rejuvenation project is similar to “acupuncture therapy”. The most critical meridians and acupoints were selected and then intervened slightly to avoid the stratification of the regional social structure and spatial texture. Through redesigning the Longjin River, architects organically connected public and private spaces around and stimulated the vitality of the surrounding by curating public art exhibitions and organizing cultural heritage activities.

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    Holcim Awards Silver Asia Pacific

    Winner presentation to Ancient Rejuvenation in China (l-r): Magali Anderson, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation, Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer of the Holcim Group; Xian Lu, Italy on behalf of ARCity Office, Shenzhen, China; Philippe Block, Member of the Holcim Awards jury Asia Pacific 2020 and Professor of Architecture & Structure, ETH Zurich.

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    Holcim Awards Silver Asia Pacific

    Winner presentation to Ancient Rejuvenation - Urban revitalization as alternative to demolition, Shenzhen, China (l-r): Maria Atkinson, Chairperson of the Holcim Foundation (at podium); Magali Anderson, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation, Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer of the Holcim Group; Xian Lu, Italy on behalf of ARCity Office, Shenzhen, China; Philippe Block, Member of the Holcim Awards jury Asia Pacific 2020 and Academic Committee of the Holcim Foundation.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    The project demonstrates a gentler alternative to demolishing and rebuilding the district.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Due to the decline of the entire region, houses are in disrepair, weathering, and even collapsed into ruins. In fact, these traces of space formed by time and natural forces are very beautiful. For this reason, architects decided to protect the “spatial artwork” to the greatest extent through designing interesting viewing paths (such as sky bridges, viewing pavilions, resting platforms, etc.), allowing people to change their perspectives to appreciate these most precious everyday heritage.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Separate rain and sewage, and redesign landscape in a low-cost way to promote regional rejuvenation.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Selected six unique locations along the Longjin River for architectural, landscape and interior design.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Plant vegetation along the river, add flower ponds, seats, and viewing pavilions to bring the river to life.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Reconstruct old buildings in a very ‘light’ way, integrated new and old into one whole.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Turned a fire station into a semi-open stage, where villagers can view entertainment.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Designed a sky bridge and a small square for villagers to practice Mantis Boxing on a ruined site.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Architects, also the curators, curated TimeDrift -Shajing Fair urban site-specific exhibition.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Local cultural heritages (market, Cantonese Opera and martial arts) will be revived with the place.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    Project main authors (l-r): Jing Han and Yuxing Zhang, ARCity Office, Shenzhen, China.

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    Ancient Rejuvenation in China

    ARCity Office was founded by Dr ZHANG Yuxing and Dr HAN Jing located in Shenzhen and Shanghai.

  • Awards Silver 2020–2021 Asia Pacific

An intervention for the preservation and revitalization of a historical district demonstrates sustainable alternatives to demolition.

By Yuxing Zhang, Jing Han - ARCity Office, Shenzhen, China

Shajing Ancient Fair is the largest existing historical district in Shenzhen with a particularly rich architectural heritage. With 500,000 residents, the subdistrict is the most densely populated area of the city. Despite the significant sociological and aesthetic values embedded, many historical sites in this district are at risk of being demolished because of their advanced state of decay. The intervention on Shajing’s Longjin River district described by this proposal shows that an alternative to demolition exists – and resides in a careful combination of preservation and rejuvenation actions. 

Architectural, landscape and interior design projects are proposed on six locations along the river. A fire station is transformed into a public stage for Cantonese opera, building ruins into a sky bridge, a small plaza into a Mantis Boxing practice square, and a triangular space into an outdoor market for artifacts. Local people are invited to participate in art creation to reimagine several old houses into exhibition halls. Key to the success of the proposal is the redesign of the polluted river which is now two-tiered – with clean water incorporating attractive pedestrian paths above and a sewer below. Not only do these actions provide villagers with new public cultural and recreational spaces, but they also bring ancient ruins back to life, revitalizing the local cultural heritage and creating employment opportunities for the district. The project privileges the use of waste and low-carbon materials and the adoption of passive cooling systems.

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Project authors

  • Ancient Rejuvenation in China
    Yuxing Zhang

    ARCity Office

  • Ancient Rejuvenation in China
    Jing Han

    ARCity Office

Bringing in a fresh, welcome modern character, the architectural solutions were also found to be particularly contextualized and respectful of the local cultural and social environment. Holcim Awards 2020 jury for Asia Pacific

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Due to the decline of the entire region, houses are in disrepair, weathering, and even collapsed into ruins. In fact, these traces of space formed by time and natural forces are very beautiful. For this reason, architects decided to protect the “spatial artwork” to the greatest extent through designing interesting viewing paths (such as sky bridges, viewing pavilions, resting platforms, etc.), allowing people to change their perspectives to appreciate these most precious everyday heritage.

Project updates

October 12, 2023 | Project Update - Ecogradia Blog | Shenzhen, China

‘Acupuncture therapy’ saves Shenzhen’s district from demolition

To preserve the cultural heritage of the largest surviving historical district in Shenzhen (China), ARCity Office has drawn on a model of ‘acupuncture therapy’ to rejuvenate a 70-kilometre stretch along the Longjin River. The rejuvenation of Shajing Ancient Fair by ARCity as urban acupuncture won a Holcim Awards Silver for Asia Pacific in 2020 - and illustrates the sustainable method of restoring local built, social, and economic assets.

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November 13, 2021 | Media Release | Venice, Italy

Urban revitalization in Shenzhen, China wins Holcim Awards Silver for Asia Pacific

Holcim Awards Silver Asia Pacific

Shajing Ancient Fair is the largest historic district of Shenzhen city, but young people are moving out, old buildings are deteriorating, emissions pollute the air. Many historic sites are at risk of loss due to neglect. This project aims to revitalize the historic district through a well-planned mix of preservation, cultural, employment, and infrastructure-improvement measures. The concept demonstrates a viable alternative to demolition. Architectural, landscape, and interior design projects are proposed at six locations along the river.

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November 13, 2021 | Regional Jury Report – Asia Pacific | Eclepens, Switzerland

“Turning city density into surprising and joyful spatial and emotional realities”

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

The Holcim Awards jury Asia Pacific was fascinated by the bold yet balanced, delicate and non-intrusive spirit of this project that, through simple architectural gestures, turns city density into surprising and joyful spatial and emotional realities for the village dwellers. The effort that the proposal makes in raising collective awareness on the importance of preserving local heritages and attempt to delay, if not avoid, the alarming decay of historic Chinese villages was highly commended. Bringing in a fresh, welcome modern character, the architectural solutions were also found to be particularly contextualized and respectful of the local cultural and social environment.

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November 13, 2021 | Shenzhen, China

Project Entry

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

The Longjin River was once essential for trade and transportation. Later on, due to the decline of Shajing, the river channel was gradually filled in, narrowed and polluted, turning into a 2-meter wide odorous gutter. Architects adopt a low-cost rain and sewage diversion strategy to divide the channel into two layers. The lower layer is sewage, and the upper is rainwater. Thus, when there is no rainwater, the upper one can be filled by reclaiming filtered water from a nearby sewage plant.

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Related information

Related information

Location

pin Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China

Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China

News

Project Update

‘Acupuncture therapy’ saves Shenzhen’s district from demolition

Shenzhen, China

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Holcim Awards prize-winner interview

An alternative to demolition: reviving an urban village

Shenzhen, China

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Regional Jury Report – Asia Pacific

“Turning city density into surprising and joyful spatial and emotional realities”

Eclepens, Switzerland

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Global Awards Finalist Entry

Global Awards 2021 Project Entry

Shenzhen, China

Agrarian Enrichment in China

Media Release

Sustainability through policy and technological innovation

Venice, Italy

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

Statements on Sustainability by Project Authors

Project entry 2020 for Asia Pacific

Shenzhen, China

Ancient Rejuvenation in China

CO2 Lifecycle Assessment by Project Authors

Measures taken to reduce CO2 emissions

Shenzhen, China

Videos

Ancient Rejuvenation in China – Project Overview

An intervention for the preservation and revitalization of a historical district in Shenzhen demonstrates sustainable alternatives to demolition.

Ancient Rejuvenation in China – Project Overview

An intervention for the preservation and revitalization of a historical district in Shenzhen demonstrates sustainable alternatives to demolition.

Ancient Rejuvenation in China – Author Comment

Author comment by Yuxing Zhang and Jing Han, ARCity Office, China on Ancient Rejuvenation in China – Urban revitalisation as alternative to demolition.

Ancient Rejuvenation in China – Author Comment

Author comment by Yuxing Zhang and Jing Han, ARCity Office, China on Ancient Rejuvenation in China – Urban revitalisation as alternative to demolition.