Zhouzhuang Project: Rethinking the Relationship Between an Abandoned Building and a Theater Space
Repurposing an Abandoned Building in a New Cultural Context
The project is located at the entrance of Zhouzhuang in Jiangsu Province, and it focuses on reusing a hotel complex built in 2003 that had remained abandoned for many years. Rather than demolishing the building or leaving it outside the urban scene, it was redirected toward a new cultural function more closely linked to the local identity.
Transformation from Hotel to Immersive Theater Space
The complex was converted into a theater space dedicated to the performance of “Zhouzhuang Odyssey,” an experiential show relying on spatial immersion and visual engagement. This transformation reflects a clear trend toward leveraging existing buildings to serve the performing arts while preserving the project’s core infrastructure and adapting it to the demands of contemporary performance.
Institutional and Executive Framework of the Project
The project was executed under an EPC contract led by the Landscape Architecture Design and Research Institute of the China Academy of Fine Arts, providing a comprehensive framework that integrates design and implementation. In this context, Dingzong Yu Studio acted as the lead designer, while the façade team’s role was limited to adapting the exterior envelope to align with the building’s new function without compromising its architectural essence.
Significance of the Project at the Urban Planning Level
This project reflects a growing trend in Chinese urban planning toward revitalizing abandoned buildings through cultural programs, rather than treating them as structural burdens. It also highlights the role of architecture as a mediator between urban memory and contemporary use, particularly in historically significant cities such as Zhouzhuang.
Challenges in Adapting Large Buildings
The main challenge of the project was adapting the massive building, originally designed as a hotel, to align with the scale and atmosphere of a historic water town dating back a thousand years. The design needed to balance cultural symbolism with the practical functions of theatrical performances, including audience circulation and the accessibility of technical equipment.
Innovation in Design: The “Curtain” Concept
Instead of covering the building with traditional decorative elements, the “Curtain” concept was introduced, combining visual and metaphorical dimensions simultaneously. Two curved aluminum panels, resembling curtains, gently obscure the original form, creating a sense of lightness and openness.
Visitor Experience: Between Heritage and Modernity
The elevated entrance serves to create a sense of theatrical anticipation, while the dark corridor behind it forms a shadowed outline reminiscent of traditional Chinese truss roofs. In this way, contemporary architectural intervention successfully connects the historical memory of the place with its new function, enhancing both the visual and symbolic experience for visitors.
Integration Between Design and Practical Functions
The “Curtain” concept needed to balance multiple factors simultaneously, including reinforcing the structural framework, facilitating the movement of performances through the corridors, and managing the complexities of fabrication. To achieve this, a parametric design strategy was adopted from the early stages, enabling efficient management of changes and continuous adjustments throughout the development phase.
Material Selection and the Effect of Light
Anodized aluminum panels were selected for their dynamic reflection of natural light, enhancing the visual experience of both interior and exterior spaces. The final design employed 20 mm cellular panels, achieving a balance between material cost and ease of construction.
Evoking Heritage Through Details
The use of double-curved panels was minimized through a segmentation approach, employing smaller panels in areas with high curvature, evoking the scale of traditional roof tiles. In this way, the project successfully combined traditional architectural sensibility with modern technical flexibility.
Installation Challenges on a Limited-Space Site
Due to the site’s spatial constraints, conventional lifting methods using large panels were not feasible. Therefore, the installation process relied on precise planning supported by Total Station instruments, along with steel fixing plates to define positions, with fine adjustments carried out on-site by highly experienced contractors.
Relying on Advanced Technologies
This approach enabled the installation of 1,060 unique panels with high precision, within a fully integrated workflow based on Building Information Modeling (BIM). In this way, technical accuracy and construction flexibility were combined, ensuring the project’s compliance with modern building and design standards.
Interaction with Local Heritage
To align the theater’s multi-layered character with local heritage, the team conducted extensive consultations with directors, clients, and Zhouzhuang residents. The design of the façade and entrance corridor was conceived as a single integrated system, guiding audience movement functionally while simultaneously reflecting local spatial characteristics, demonstrating the project’s harmony between modernity and the city’s historical identity.
Architectural Organization of the Corridor
The corridor is based on a 50×100 cm grid module that organizes all visible architectural elements, including walls, ceilings, double columns, and cornices. The standardized repetition, combined with subtle variations, creates a multi-layered and light pedestrian experience under the “Curtain” concept, enhancing visual fluidity and strengthening the spatial immersion for visitors.
Integrating Climatic Elements into the Design
Rain was not treated as a problem but as a design opportunity. A hidden drainage system directs water from roof joints to eave spouts and rain chains, ultimately flowing into lower pools. In this way, the façade interacts with climatic conditions, appearing dark and textured on rainy days, while gleaming with bright blue under sunlight, adding a poetic material dimension that connects the building to the natural character of Zhouzhuang.
Theater Expansion Across Three Buildings
The theater spans three adjacent buildings, each with distinct façade conditions, adding a design challenge in achieving visual and functional unity. To spatially extend the “Curtain” concept, walkable areas were designed, such as a continuous staircase behind the panels, allowing potential spaces for future outdoor performances and enhancing audience interaction with the building.
Materials and Their Visual Impact
A combination of four types of perforated aluminum panels was used to create a soft, fabric-like effect on the façade surface. In this way, the design integrates traditional references from Chinese construction materials with contemporary performance requirements, reflecting a balance between the site’s historical identity and modern theatrical design techniques.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The Zhouzhuang project can be seen as an example of innovative adaptive reuse, allowing the original structure to be preserved while being repurposed for new cultural functions, reflecting a growing architectural trend toward sustainability and reuse. On a positive note, the visual concept of the “Curtain” contributes to creating a cohesive spatial experience that connects interior and exterior spaces, enhancing the spatial immersion for visitors.
However, several reservations arise from a practical architectural perspective. First, the heavy reliance on complex metal panels and precise curves may pose long-term challenges in maintenance and refurbishment, especially in climates with variable conditions. Second, adaptation to the local urban heritage remains partial, as the original hotel structure was not originally designed for an immersive theatrical experience, potentially limiting flexibility for future diverse performances. Finally, the integration of technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) is crucial during construction but may become a burden for the project’s maintenance teams post-completion, particularly if sufficient expertise is not available over the long term.
Considering these factors, the project can serve as a valuable case study for understanding the balance between adaptive reuse, spatial experience, and technical and economic considerations, emphasizing the importance of planning not only for aesthetic or symbolic aspects but also for operational and maintenance stages.
