Stone White: A Unique Activity Center for Villagers

Preserving History and Embracing Innovation

The inspiration for the Stone White activity center came from the challenge of reusing the ruin site of a stone house during the regeneration of Feiyue Village. The designers wanted to intelligently preserve the original structure while building on the existing traces. To achieve this, they created a new white house that rises above the heavy stone walls. Two trees on the site were kept and embraced by steel-tube-supported stairs, providing a guide to the new platform above the originals.

What sets the Stone White activity center apart is not only its architectural beauty but also the process through which it was realized. Built during the epidemic time, the project was mainly constructed by the local villagers through a community participatory process using low-tech methods. This approach not only fostered a sense of ownership and pride among the villagers but also ensured that the center truly serves the needs of the community.

The design of the Stone White activity center achieves a delicate balance between built and preserved, specificity and generality, immediacy and evolutionary instinct. By reusing the existing traces and imagining their future development, the center becomes an open public infrastructure that stimulates both villagers and visitors. It represents a new rurality that embraces the richness of the specific context and plans for a sustainable future.

The realization of the Stone White activity center involved the preservation of the 400mm thick stone walls and the use of a light steel structure to strengthen and support the new white house. Steel tubes with different diameters were employed as an alternative supporting system for the stairs and platform, providing both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

The construction of the Stone White activity center started in November 2019 and was completed in October 2020 in Feiyue Village, Qichun County, Hubei Province. Throughout the process, the designers faced challenges in calculating the amount of steel needed to strengthen the stone walls and determining the optimal number of metal tubes for the supporting system. However, through careful planning and on-site mock-ups, these challenges were overcome, resulting in a successful and visually striking design.

The Stone White activity center has received recognition for its outstanding design. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building, and Structure Design category in 2022. This prestigious award acknowledges the project's creativity, resourcefulness, and contribution to quality of life improvements. The Stone White activity center truly exemplifies the best practices in art, science, design, and technology.

With its unique blend of history and innovation, the Stone White activity center stands as a symbol of community collaboration and forward-thinking design. It serves as a gathering place for villagers, a source of inspiration for visitors, and a testament to the power of preserving and reimagining our architectural heritage.