minimal interventions revive the Shennong temple in zhejiang
y.advert studio has accomplished a micro renovation Shennong Temple positioned in Shuitingmen Historic and Cultural Block in Quzhou, Zhejiang, China. Often known as the Yaowang Temple, this Yuan Dynasty-era constructing offered quite a few challenges for the Shanghai staff resulting from strict rules defending cultural relics. The renovation needed to respect the historic significance and guarded standing of the constructing, whereas enhancing its spatial expertise, all with out altering the unique look and construction or growing prices.
Below these limitations, there was basically no room for spatial or design adjustments, not even for wall repairs. The answer included minimal interventions — avoiding any injury or modification of of the temple authentic columns and partitions — specializing in reclaiming house and bettering circulation, with central yard changing into a focus of the design. Moreover, relying on the positioning circumstances, the staff used concise and environment friendly strategies to maximise the activation of the house.
all photos by SCHRAN
y.advert studio restores circulation with central courtyard
The Shennong Temple covers an space of 500 sq. meters, with an oblong, quadrangle-style format, with a entrance corridor, a fundamental corridor, and a courtyard the place statues of Shennong and different distinguished medical doctors are enshrined. Listed as a protected heritage constructing in 1993, this brick and timber construction consists primarily of a entrance corridor and fundamental corridor, related by a courtyard and wing rooms.
Through the web site go to, the studio y.advert staff discovered that regardless of earlier renovations, the house remained inactive and considerably dilapidated. The format has been reconfigured by the previous customers with glass and wood home windows. The partitions have been coated with murals, statues have been scattered alongside the partitions of the again corridor, the wood pillars have been painted black, altering their authentic look, and the yard was overgrown with weeds. To revive circulation, partitions blocking entry between the back and front hallways have been eliminated. The open-air courtyard was cleaned and redefined because the visible centerpiece, preserving the unique bushes and water basins and making a cohesive circulate between completely different areas of the temple. Corridors, as soon as simply passageways, have been remodeled to incorporate show areas, enhancing their operate whereas sustaining the integrity of the unique design.
y.advert studio has accomplished a micro-renovation of the Shennong Temple
preservation of the heritage web site
As a result of constraints of cultural relics conservation rules, y.advert studio determined to undertake the same idea of exhibition curation mixed with lighting design. The renovation averted direct contact with the unique partitions and columns, adhering to a “restore earlier than insertion” method. The partitions of the back and front halls, together with the broken wood panes and black-painted wood window patterns, beams and columns, have been totally cleaned and restored. In accordance with the precept of “repairing the outdated as outdated”, the constructing has been restored to its authentic state, intentionally retaining some traces of growing old.
With out including partitions or fastened installations, the design staff reconfigured your entire house and launched new parts utilizing cellular assemblies and a modular method, whereas specializing in the combination of statue pedestals, show stands, gentle furnishings and lighting, aiming a fast, possible resolution and cost-effective renovation.
positioned in Shuitingmen Historic and Cultural Block in Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
All through its historical past, the temple has undergone a number of renovations. It was established through the Yuan Dynasty within the 13th century, initially serving as a lecture corridor, and through the Ming Dynasty, it served as a medical college. The prevailing construction was crowdfunded and constructed by the native Quzhou medical neighborhood in 1763 through the Qing Dynasty, with vital reconstruction in 1872. Through the Republic of China (1912-1949), Lanxi retailers specializing in medicinal supplies used the temple as a corridor of the Affiliation of the Pharmaceutical Trade.
the renovation needed to respect the historic significance of the constructing whereas enhancing its spatial expertise