Revitalizing History: Shantang Street Phase IV by Yi Jian Architects

Award-winning renewal planning project breathes new life into a 1200-year-old cultural street

The inspiration for this project came from the rich history of Shantang Street and its surrounding area. As part of the Grand Canal World Heritage Site, Shantang Street has a history of 1200 years and was once depicted in the famous painting, Prosperous Suzhou, from the Qianlong Period of the Qing Dynasty. However, over the years, the area has fallen into decay, with buildings left to deteriorate and litter strewn around. The aim of the Shantang Street Phase IV project is to reverse this decline and restore the area's former glory.

What sets this project apart is its approach to renewal planning. Instead of simply tearing down old buildings and constructing new ones, Yi Jian Architects have chosen to respect the history of the area and restore its original spatial structure. They have carefully studied the historical background of each building and selected four important historical space node groups for activation. By injecting new commercial activities into these clusters, they hope to stimulate community revival and rebuild people's confidence in the area.

The project also involves architectural and landscape design. The architects have been careful to maintain the traditional style of the local buildings in Suzhou, even going so far as to refer to Yingzao Fayuan, a treatise on traditional architectural craftsmanship in Suzhou, for the renovation of the interior of the buildings. The street landscape of Shantang Street has also been redesigned in a unified way, with the addition of public spaces such as pocket squares to refresh the community's vitality.

One of the challenges faced by the architects was the overcrowded and messy state of the current site due to years of disorderly construction. To overcome this, they carefully screened the existing buildings, removed illegal structures, and preserved the historic buildings. They also widened the passages between buildings that were too narrow to ensure proper evacuation and circulation.

The Shantang Street Phase IV project started in August 2021 and is still under construction. Despite the challenges, the project has already had a significant social impact. It is an attempt to renew a historic street and serves as a banner of historic neighborhood revival. Through the dialogues between the new and the old, the project provides public spaces for local residents and attracts tourists to read the local cultural background, bringing vitality and confidence to the community.

In conclusion, the Shantang Street Phase IV project by Yi Jian Architects is a shining example of how design can be used to preserve cultural heritage and revitalize communities. It shows that with careful planning and a respect for history, it is possible to breathe new life into old neighborhoods while still retaining their unique charm and character.