Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, is an ancient city in China that is known as a hub for innovation. It was the first few cities that developed industries focussed on printmaking and manufacturing. As trade and industry grew, Hangzhou significantly rose as an economic capital under the rule of the Song dynasty. Today, it continues to be a popular hub for tourism with multiple innovative projects, with the driving force of development being the integration of its historical and cultural layers. Large expanses of traditional houses and industrial layouts have been repurposed into public spaces that nurture various creative zones.
Dongshan Village, Fuyang District, situated within Hangzhou, is an example of a traditional village in China that has a rich association with the paper-making industry. With a history of more than 1500 years, Dongshan has increasingly gained recognition as a historical and cultural village. The rise of traditional buildings with contemporary functions has been a critical factor in Dongshan’s tourism economy. In 2013, it was one of the villages selected at the provincial level for the protection of heritage.
Exploring the Paper Museum in Dongshan Village, Hangzhou
The Paper Museum in Dongshan is an example of a renovation project undertaken in 2019 by the THUPDI Department of Traditional Village, an organization that aims to preserve the traditional village landscapes of the region. The project focussed on maintaining the core of the traditional building while integrating facilities for the overall development and maintenance of the structure. When introducing new functions, the organization tapped into the rich history of the paper-making industry of Dongshan and designed a museum allowing visitors to experience the traditional methods of paper-making with the main focus on the spatial narrative. The success of the project has created a recognition towards the protection of heritage while also generating employment opportunities for the area.
Architectural significance of the complex
A timber-frame courtyard house, the Paper Museum was initially a residential complex built during the late Qing and Republic of China period. It was given the name Qiangqiang when the owner put a flag post outside the courtyard wall after achieving recognition and authority. It reflects a traditional Chinese typology with a central courtyard and independent rooms on all sides to form a typical design of a Chinese quadrangle. The courtyard and the houses are arranged in axial symmetry, which was a feature of the period it was built in. The typical Chinese brackets, known as Dongong, found along the courtyard represent the cultural and artistic associations of Chinese architecture. While the overall planning of the initial complex was well designed, over the years, modern interventions have created a lack of space within the complex.
Renovation project: Retaining the complex
With the concept of “rooting in the countryside and activating heritage”, THUPDI Department of Traditional Village took up the Qiganqiang complex as a project to establish links between traditional and contemporary. With the rich history in handcraft paper making, THUPDI believes that integrating the industry will conserve it as a cultural legacy as well as foster community growth within the region. The paper-making industry thus became an integral part of the development strategy for the Paper Museum project.
The renovation aims to give a building a sense of place within its local environment. The focus was to retain as much of the original structure as possible; the wooden members and intricately carved details were preserved, and only the damaged sections of wood were repaired. This supports the idea that the building should utilize as many local resources, construction techniques, and traditional craftsmanship as possible. Glass doors and windows were added within the complex to increase illumination.
To improve the visitor experience, the design team added three wooden staircases internally and steel box structures externally. The spatial concept aimed to alternate between interior exhibition space and the external local environment, thus highlighting the connection between the paper-making industry and the environment. The courtyard facade was also maintained, and wooden members containing carvings were repaired. The complex was further strengthened by placing wooden outer walls and column ties.
Integration of history and culture: Impact
The Paper Museum in Dongshan village is an ode to the industrial heritage of the village, that forges a new relationship between tradition, contemporary and development. It poses a new direction for projects to empathize with the environment and build within its context. The modern additions to this traditional Chinese structure acts as a testament to the rich architectural history while also encapsulating the intangible heritage of the village. Visitors get a sense of history and explore the layers of change the building has witnessed over time while also getting glimpses into the knowledge systems of traditional paper-making techniques. The museum architecturally reflects the traditional style of construction of Chinese architecture while also focusing on visitors’ experience and their connections to the context.
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