The historical and cultural fabric of urban areas is continuously evolving.
Preserving and revitalizing historic buildings demands a progressive and innovative approach.
By blending the spirit of the modern era with new business models,
we can transform these spaces into vibrant and sustainable parts of the urban landscape.
Changle Town, located in Haimen District, Nantong City, is the birthplace of Zhang Jian (1853–1926), a renowned industrialist, politician, and educator from the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. The cultural and tourism project named “Jianli Town” centers around the renovation of Changle Old Street, Zhang Jian’s hometown. Goa Elephant Design was responsible for the planning and design of the entire town, with the Jianli Town Exhibition Hall serving as the gateway to Changle Old Street—the core area of the project.
Changle Old Street dates back to the Qianlong period and features a bluestone road stretching over 300 meters east to west. The exhibition hall is positioned at the eastern entrance of the old street, adjacent to the north is the century-old wooden Changle Town Supply and Marketing Cooperative building, a protected historic structure.
The challenge was to design a new exhibition hall that harmonizes with these small historical buildings while integrating cultural and tourism functions that reflect local heritage. The design also sought to evoke a sense of cultural belonging and to continue Zhang Jian’s pioneering spirit of “changing old customs and establishing new trends.” This aspiration guided the project’s design approach.
Inspired by “Siting Zhaigou”: Preserving Traditional Residential Strategies by Integrating Architecture with Nature
The Jianli Town Exhibition Hall is situated along the water and draws inspiration from the characteristic residential prototypes found in the Chongqihai area (Chongming, Haimen, Qidong) along the north bank of the Yangtze River estuary. This region features low-lying terrain formed by accumulated sandbar land.
Locals historically dug trenches around their homes to collect soil and raised their foundations, creating circular ditches known as “Siting Zhaigou” when surrounded on four sides, with these ditches often positioned on the south side.
Schematic diagram illustrating the spatial form of “Siting Zhaigou” in the Chongqihai area.
This homestead ditch system reflects the deep wisdom of traditional agricultural culture: the surrounding water served various purposes including drinking, washing, irrigation, and firefighting, while also acting as a protective barrier. Small bridges provided access paths in front of the homes.
Though modernization has altered the sandbar topography, the local water systems and small bridges largely persist in rural dwelling forms, preserving valuable imprints of local customs.
△ East facade, realistic view
The architects preserved the original water system on-site, continuing the “residential ditch” concept by designing new bridges on the south and east sides, linking the building to the opposite shore. They created a distinctive Tingzhou style landscape with greenery and water features, maintaining the scale of the historic wooden buildings and preserving local cultural and spatial traditions.
△ West facade, realistic view
The exhibition hall’s structure is primarily steel. Columns in the lobby and foyer are concealed within the vertical supports of the curtain wall, while those in the exhibition hall integrate seamlessly with the walls. This results in a column-free interior space.
A narrow courtyard is positioned at the intersection of key functional areas, allowing ample sunlight and landscaping to enter the interior. The interplay of glass and walls creates a dynamic blend of interior and exterior spaces, producing varied and pure light and shadow effects.
△ Realistic view of the prologue hall and inner courtyard
Lightweight Roof: Reinterpreting Traditional Symbols with a Contemporary Language
The roof peaks at 15 meters, where the architect reinterprets history through a modern architectural language by deconstructing the traditional roof into four hyperbolic single-slope sections. The low eaves correspond to the scale of existing buildings along the old street, with the roofs converging towards the center to create exhibition space.
This fragmented roof design skillfully reconciles the contrast between large exhibition halls and small historic buildings, while creating a contemporary cultural symbol.
△ Functional integration within an asymmetric floor plan
△ Design strategy: breaking the whole into smaller parts
△ Conceptual model diagram
The roof extends outward from the center, with each deconstructed section corresponding to different functional zones: entrance hall, foyer, exhibition hall, and service areas, forming an asymmetric, windmill-shaped micro-community.
Building on the symmetrical composition of classical architecture, this modern design introduces a balanced yet dynamic asymmetry.
The north side of the building features double-layered eaves that correspond with those of the adjacent historic wooden Supply and Marketing Cooperative building, achieving scale harmony with the preserved old structure.
Double-layered eaves on the north side correspond to those of the historic building.
The roof slopes gently rise from east to west. Inside the exhibition hall, the pure white ceiling features a stepped design that progresses layer by layer, creating a strong sense of order. This architectural arrangement guides visitors smoothly through the exhibit space, with the spatial design and exhibition layout harmoniously integrated to showcase the beauty of the art.
△ Interior view of a+b Exhibition Hall
Hyperboloid Roof System: Creating a Pillow-Shaped Cavity Integrating Structure and Equipment
For the roof material, the architects prioritized environmental sustainability. Considering Haimen’s humid subtropical monsoon climate, they selected green, eco-friendly titanium zinc plates. This lightweight material offers natural corrosion resistance and complements the traditional gray tiles and white walls found throughout the old street.
Over time, the titanium zinc plates develop a dense protective patina that adds unique character to the building.
The roof geometry was developed using hyperbolic numerical models, facilitating precise and efficient construction. Both horizontal and vertical beams form consistent arcs with identical curvature, while the four double-curved roof sections were designed with 3D modeling to ensure accurate spherical placement.
Parametric tools were used to study and precisely locate the roof’s structural elements.
To emphasize lightness, the roof’s interior structure was designed as an “air cushion” shaped cavity—thicker at the center and tapering towards the edges—with a 500mm thick steel beam framework hidden within. The eaves are slender and elegantly curved from every angle.
△ Detailed drawing of the roof structure
The ceiling is clad with natural wood veneer resin panels, divided into modules using parametric software. The curved roof enhances spatial openness, creating a light and graceful atmosphere.
To accommodate multifunctional uses and strengthen the connection between interior and exterior, the exhibition hall features a 15-meter-wide folding door that can be fully opened.
△ The a+b exhibition hall curtain wall can open fully, integrating indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces.
The cultural heritage of urban areas is always evolving. In today’s fast-paced social development, protecting and revitalizing historic buildings requires integrating new uses, generating fresh themes, and igniting new vitality to create warm, sustainable urban spaces.
The renovation of Changle Old Street and the design of the Jianli Town Exhibition Hall represent an active exploration within the context of historical preservation. By employing contemporary materials and design techniques, the architects continue Zhang Jian’s pioneering spirit of “changing old customs and establishing new trends,” crafting a new cultural exchange hub that injects fresh energy into Haimen’s urban development.
Project Drawings
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Project Name: Jianli Town Exhibition Hall
Design Firm: Goa Elephant Design
Location: Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China
Design and Completion: 2018–2021
Building Area: Approximately 952 square meters
Image Credits: Architectural photography by Architectural Photography Here; design by Goa Elephant
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