Ancient Banyan Plaza Renovation
Zhongxin Village is located in a mountain basin in Huizhou, Guangdong, China, where a river flows through a valley. The village has a history of over 700 years and is marked by two ancient banyan trees at its entrance. Most existing buildings were built in the 1990s using brick-concrete construction. In recent years, they were uniformly renovated with painted facades and added metal eaves, giving the village the texture of contemporary rural daily life of China.
The renovation focuses on three existing structures: a granary and two village houses. Partitions and stairs were removed to create flexible interior spaces and reconfigure circulation. The south facade of the granary was largely opened, while a continuous eave and new curved walls reshape the surrounding outdoor spaces.
The bookstore features a local history display on the ground floor and reading spaces above, with a new rooftop shaded structure for flexible use. The integrated service station combines retail with daily services such as parcel collection and basic financial functions. The café frames views of the banyan trees, with expanded windows and stepped seating that create informal gathering spaces.
The landscape design extends the shaded area around the banyan trees and reorganizes the entrance plaza into different zones for activity and rest. Curved elements guide movement and define flexible outdoor areas. Fiberglass is used within the banyan root zones to minimize excavation, while reclaimed stone elements are integrated into furniture and landscape details. A continuous eave at ground level creates a new open public space for both villagers and visitors.
Materials such as steel pipes and corrugated metal panels—once emblematic of industrialization—are now common in local construction. Since the 1978 rural reforms, industrial systems have merged with local techniques, together forming a distinctive vernacular that shapes China’s contemporary countryside.
CREDITS
Architectural and Interior Design: Atelier XÜK
Architects in Charge: LIU Kenan, ZHANG Xu
Design Team: DENG Tian, GU Chao, LIU Xinyue, CUI Chenlong, ZHOU Yihang (Intern)
On-Site Architect: DENG Tian
Structural Design: Guangzhou Urban Renewal Planning & Design Institute Co., Ltd.
MEP Design: Guangzhou Urban Renewal Planning & Design Institute Co., Ltd.
