Renewed Vision
This project presented to Naked Building focuses on rural revitalization.
We believe the defining trait that separates “renovation” from “new construction” is the ability to “embrace the moment.”
Discovering the hidden momentum and acting upon it is at the heart of every restoration project. It’s akin to clearing the clouds to reveal the moon. Naturally, the first step is to clarify the destination and determine the effort required. This approach has guided our work on bare building renovations in recent years.
Liancang: The Lotus Warehouse
Located in Jiaxing’s Wangjiangjing Town, near the Taocang Canal and the Hundred Mu Lianhuadang area, stand two old grain warehouses. Built in the 1950s and 1960s, these structures originally served as rice storage for local residents. After being damaged by fire, the buildings were abandoned for years. The elegant lotus pond in front likely functioned historically for water intake and fire prevention. The pottery warehouse and lotus pond complement each other, earning the nickname “Lotus Warehouse.” Following renovation, the terrazzo lotus pattern inside the warehouse echoes the grain warehouse’s structural arches.
The owner commissioned Naked Building for renovation and renewal, aiming to transform the granary into a landmark that reflects its architectural features and historical significance.
The harmonious relationship between the pottery warehouse and lotus pond inspires the name “Lotus Warehouse” © Zhen Xiaolong
Two grain warehouses built in the 1950s–60s were later damaged by fire and left abandoned © Bare Building Update
The grain silo’s internal concrete arch structure remains intact despite fire damage © Bare Building Update
Potential Energy: Function and Beyond
1. Internal Potential
Functionally, the owners envision the old granary as an art center. The West Granary will house commercial exhibitions, while the East Granary will focus on art displays. Thanks to the unique concrete arch support system, the interior visual experience is cohesive, with the arches creating an immersive spatial rhythm. This inherent momentum remains unbroken. Given the building’s age, any addition that disrupts the original structure would be a burden.
Therefore, we concluded that the East and West Granaries should serve as “pure exhibition spaces,” while all supporting functions for the art center are accommodated externally.
Structural interventions inside the granary must be minimal and respectful.
2. External Additions
Following the demolition of adjacent abandoned textile warehouses, the two grain silos stand side by side on the site, facing north toward the canal, with vast open land to the south and a pond nearby. The site layout runs east-west, so the best solution was to add external volumes that accompany the old granary, creating a new unified composition.
This concept gave rise to the design of the connecting corridor.
△ Decomposition diagram
△ Decomposition diagram
Taocang Art Center faces the canal to the north and the expansive hinterland to the south
The best approach for external additions is a complementary design that creates a new composition with the old granaries
Architecturally, the connecting corridor reshapes the entrance and circulation patterns, doubling as commercial and social space. As an auxiliary support for the art center, it enables the granary exhibition halls to extend outward while preserving their internal integrity. This design reflects our respect for the old granary’s experience.
△ Model building facade
△ Model building rear view
△ Model building side view
A. Redefining the Entrance
The main exhibition halls each have four entrances. With the addition of the connecting corridor, all circulation is guided toward the middle entrance, designed at an appropriate human scale. Visitors approach from both east and west wings and enter centrally. The east and west sides function as freight entrances, with doors opened to separate pedestrian and goods traffic.
East and west freight entrances open to maintain separation of people and goods
Our architectural approach seeks to protect the granary’s internal character, showing reverence for its history
△ The East Granary will become an art exhibition hall
B. Commercial and Social Spaces
As noted earlier, all renovation projects eventually return to economic viability. The corridor space supports cafes, light dining, souvenir shops, and other commercial amenities to sustain the art center’s operations. Initially, floor-to-ceiling glass and mechanical provisions were included to create an enclosed indoor corridor. However, for operational reasons, the corridor remains a semi-open gray space.
The new corridor functions as a supporting space for cafes, entrances, and social activities
Potential: Architectural Directionality
The granaries’ east-west orientation establishes clear directionality. Once a building gains a sense of spatial direction, its “position” or “field” naturally emerges. In our design, the corridor not only extends the linear momentum parallel to the old granaries but also rises vertically as it converges at the central entrance, creating a vertical momentum. These two dynamics form the project’s core: honoring the old granary’s parallelism while aspiring skyward.
Formally, the corridor acts as a companion structure, joining the two granaries at the center entrance. Spatially, its height steps upward, creating a tranquil, elevated central space that climaxes the architectural experience.
The corridor serves as a companion structure, converging the two granaries centrally
The corridor’s height rises in layers, enhancing the architectural atmosphere
The corridor acts as a bridge, setting the emotional tone and ceremonial entrance
Two corridors run alongside the granaries, connected yet distinct
The connecting corridor creates a quiet central space
After converging, the space rises to the third floor, forming a tranquil field that preludes entry into the old granary exhibition halls
The gray space at the corridor’s convergence features three levels of open voids
A place to gather energy, ascend, gaze skyward, and meditate
Grey space facilitates circulation as the corridor converges centrally
Gathering energy, ascending, gazing at the sky, meditating
Power: Poetic Companionship
The connecting corridor symbolizes the enduring bond between Naked Building and the granary. We often anthropomorphize architecture because it reflects abstract human thought. While geometry itself lacks emotion, through human perception, we interpret relationships and feelings. This is a core aspect of architectural practice.
Architecture is a reflection of humanity, and Naked Building values the expression of empathy in design. Historically, landmark buildings symbolized power and authority, but here, amid the hundred-acre lotus pond, we hope these granaries, after 60 years of history, will continue as companions alongside us.
Taocang Art Center faces south, overlooking the pond
The corridor embodies the lasting affection between Naked Building and the granaries
Drainage Design
The brick undulations that collect, disperse, and drain water serve as vital architectural decoration, consistently expressed through brick craftsmanship.
△ Details of water dispersion and drainage
△ Details of water dispersion and drainage
Brickwork language is a key decorative element throughout the architecture
Maisui Mountain Wall
The wheat ear motif symbolizes the granary’s history.
This monumental brick masonry acts as a dialogue between the old granary and the present. Similar to the drainage design, it uses stacked wheat ear patterns created by varying the dimensions of three types of bricks. The new bricks in the corridor contrast with the old granary bricks, bridging past and present.
The wheat ear motif recalls the granary’s agricultural roots
Close-up detail of wheat ear brick pattern
Structural Dialogue
The old granary relies on concrete arches supporting a hyperbolic roof with brick panels, creating a dramatic structural effect. For the corridor, Naked Building chose arches with clear structural logic that complement the grain warehouse’s main structure, proceeding in an orderly fashion.
△ Axial side view
△ Structural contrast
△ Spiral staircase serving as the main internal circulation within the granary
Floral Harmony: Pond and Warehouse
If Liancang’s architecture embodies empathy, then the interior of the Lotus Warehouse explains its namesake. Before renovation, the warehouse stored grain; lotus represents the local geographic feature. Villagers of Wangjiangjing have long sustained themselves through the lotus industry — harvesting flowers, roots, stems, and leaves across all seasons. Lotus has been their livelihood; grain, their staple.
The pond’s edge and warehouse floor are adorned with blossoms
Lotus is a defining feature of the region; locals have relied on the lotus industry for generations
△ Flowers, lotus roots, stems, and leaves across all seasons
Postscript
Amidst a hundred acres of lotus blooms, an ancient grain warehouse rises anew.
Also known as Liancang.
A site of twin granaries, a center of community ties, and a spirit of place.
Standing tall and observing quietly, the architecture conceals divinity and softly recalls the past.
The auxiliary corridor follows the main structure, completing the composition. Come, drink, and converse here.
The brick corridors embody structure, order, and aesthetic beauty. Twin corridors converge at the center, rising upwards, framing the sky and grounding the building, in harmonious balance.
Protecting the internal arches and carrying memories, the brick facades and black tiles hold water. The pond’s edge blooms with flowers, and the warehouse floor is filled with blossoms.
The exhibition spaces are open and grand, yet commerce thrives quietly.
△ Exterior view of the East Granary
Early autumn, Year of Gengzi
Project update by Naked Building
Design Drawings
△ First floor color plan
△ Second floor color plan
△ Third floor color plan
Analysis diagram showing rainwater diversion on the north brick wall
Construction technique of grain silo mountain wall and rainwater channel
△ Brick-laying method for the Lianlang Mountain wall
Opening design of the granary gates
Project Details
Project Name: Taocang Art Center
Location: Jiaxing, China
Address: Fengchan Bridge, Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province
Building Area: 2,448 square meters
Design Firm: ROARC.cn, specializing in bare building renovation
Lead Architect: Bai Zhenqi
Project Architects: Sheng Mengxuan, Xue Leqian
Design Team: Liang Xiaoyi, Wu Yejing, Lu Huiqin, Gu Qian, Yang Jun, Lin Youzheng
Terrazzo Mosaic Floor Design: Gu Qiansheng, Sheng Mengxuan
Lighting Design: Zhuying Lighting Design
Lighting Team: Hong Shenglin, Chen Guyu, Liu Zhenyun
Construction Consultant: Zhang Chenghua, Jielu Decoration
Terrazzo Floor Contractor: Jielu Terrazzo / Shanghai Jielu Decoration Design Engineering Co., Ltd.
Photography: Wen Studio
Owner: Xiangban Tourism and Cultural Development Co., Ltd.
Project Participants (Owner’s Side): Zhu Shengxuan, Dong Tianshu, Zhen Xiaolong, Yu Hong
Main Materials: Red brick and cement
Design Period: June 2019 – August 2019
Construction Period: September 2019 – March 2020
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