A humanistic realm that transcends time and space
1. Project Background
Urbanization and industrialization have disrupted the connection between people and the natural environment—land, sunlight, and mountains—leading to a loss of opportunity to experience nature’s atmosphere.
Situated in the core of the 6,000-acre Crested Ibis International Health and Wellness Ecological City in Yang County, Shaanxi Province, the “Yang County Black Rice Field” offers a new lifestyle for busy urban dwellers. Through an integrated life experience system that combines ecological immersion, cultural exchange, elderly care, and leisure activities, it invites visitors to reconnect with nature: to see rice fields, watch rolling clouds, anticipate spring planting and autumn harvests, rediscover the natural rhythms of rural life, and find inner peace.
This project seeks to create a holistic living experience that blends ecological activities, cultural interaction, elderly care, and entertainment. Its goal is to bridge rural and urban divides, break down barriers, and reshape the sense of home.
2. Planning and Design
The demonstration zone covers 5,118.82 square meters. The spatial layout unfolds organically around the central elements of One Water, Two Streets, and Multi-level Squares, featuring 400 meters of migratory commercial streets that create a vibrant rural town atmosphere.
The town’s business model integrates street-level shops and themed guesthouses, offering centralized services including health and wellness, entertainment, education, and commerce. Residents benefit from comprehensive elderly care services emphasizing happiness, wellness, care, health, and medical support.
The demonstration area centers on the main square, where careful attention is given to the spatial scale and relationship of surrounding interfaces. Traditional landscaping techniques are incorporated to create a natural architectural community.
The Shoukai District connects to the northern secondary entrance and hosts a variety of businesses including the Life Exhibition Center, Owners’ Canteen, Elderly Home, and themed homestays. To the south, wetland landscapes are integrated into the main display space showcasing the aesthetics of life. Walking through the town’s central square offers a rich experience of the diverse block atmosphere and a glimpse of future living scenes.
3. Style Design
3.1 Residential Architecture in Southern Shaanxi
Located in southern Shaanxi, Yang County reflects a blend of regional cultures. Local residential architecture merges styles from the Jingchu and Bashu regions, while also incorporating features characteristic of the Qin region.
3.2 Small Town Landscape Research
Architects selectively extract architectural elements from three cultural traditions. Using traditional materials combined with contemporary aesthetics and fine craftsmanship, they create a rustic style that balances grandeur and refinement.
(1) Roof Design
Southern Shaanxi experiences limited rainfall and low drainage requirements. Local residential roofs feature gentle slopes and wide eaves. To emphasize agility, small lifting folds were designed at the eaves.
(2) Wood Veneer Decoration
Carbonized wood plays a key role in conveying traditional construction methods in small towns. Balancing effectiveness and economy, carbonized wood is used strategically: all eaves, gable surfaces, and key viewing angles near human scale are decorated with wood panels, while secondary views are mainly painted. The boundaries between materials, edges, and door and window frames are defined by carbonized wood lines to add depth.
(3) Imitation Rammed Earth Panels
The wall surfaces are finished with wet-applied imitation rammed earth panels. Their texture is a 1:1 print from real aged walls, featuring natural textures with pronounced bumps and depressions to closely mimic authentic rammed earth. This marks the first use of such material in China.
(4) Old Green Brick
To evoke a rustic and natural ambiance, old green bricks sourced from over 100 kilometers away were cut and applied as decorative wall materials. Brick carvings were designed on wind and fire mountain walls to simplify construction while ensuring compatibility with modern techniques.
△ Rendering of Old Green Brick
(5) Detail Elements
The design carefully preserves traditional Shaannan dwelling details, highlighting features such as mountain walls and decorative small flower windows.
3.3 Typical Wall Construction Methods
4. Life Exhibition Center
4.1 Generation Analysis
(1) Linear Land Use
The project features a high plot ratio and dense building concentration. Limited residential land has resulted in a narrow, linear parcel allocated for the exhibition center.
(2) Two Functional Blocks
The exhibition center is divided into two main areas: a public exhibition space facing the wetland park that requires open spaces, and a logistics service area positioned along the main street and on the second floor.
(3) Integrated Roof Forms
By interlocking the two blocks, the design creates terraces rich in viewing opportunities. Double-pitched roofs on both floors correspond with the town’s architectural style, with a dynamic gap and extension space between them.
4.2 Architectural Design
The exhibition center showcases a more modern aesthetic compared to other town buildings, using primary materials like metal and stone.
Facade Composition: From roof to walls, curtain wall construction is employed with unified volumes and materials, emphasizing horizontal extension.
Typical Wall Construction: Imitation wood-metal walls, stone walls, transparent glass, and metal roofs combine to give the building a refined modern character and rich detailing.
5. Presentation Effect
Each spring, crested ibises pair up to nest in the wetlands of Yang County, living harmoniously alongside local residents. The combination of reed marshes, crested ibises, wilderness, and flowing streams creates a picturesque rural landscape.
Walking along the main street, visitors are welcomed by a peaceful, quaint atmosphere. The design integrates traditional Shaannan residential materials and techniques, blending local heritage with contemporary styles.
This environment preserves the long-standing residential imprint of Hanzhong residents, crafting a living scene that evokes emotional attachment and resonance for modern inhabitants. The central square is pleasantly scaled, serving as a hub where many functional routes converge.
The fusion of ancient architectural elements with transparent modern commercial display surfaces creates a space that intertwines time and place, offering visitors a unique, immersive experience.
Every blade of grass, every tree, brick, tile, courtyard, and house embodies the pastoral poetry of this land.
Project Drawings
△ General layout plan
First floor of the demonstration zone
△ Demonstration Zone Second Floor
△ Facade along the lake
△ Street facade
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Project Name: High tech Black Rice Field Project
Project Type: Architecture / Planning
Location: 500 meters south of the intersection of Nanhuan Road and Donghuan South Road, Yang County, Hanzhong City
Design Firm: Aimeo (Shanghai) Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd. (M.A.O.)
Main Creators and Design Team: Li Yujia, Chai Jing, Liu Lei, Sun Zhifeng, Wu Youkai, Qiu Chunhui, Zuo Qian
Owner: Shaanxi Gaoxin Shi’an Cultural and Tourism Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Construction Status: Under construction
Design Period: February 2020 – October 2021
Construction Start: November 2021
Land Area: 25,505 square meters
Building Area: 18,000 square meters
Construction Drawings: Northwest Engineering Design and Research Institute of China United
Landscape Design: Shenzhen Atkinson Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd.
Construction: Hanzhong Dongyuan Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.
Materials: Imitation rammed earth board by Lantu Coating Engineering (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; Metal roof by Leju Lezhu (Beijing) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.; Carbonized wood by Xi’an Blueprint Decoration Landscape Engineering Co., Ltd.
Photography: Octopus Architecture Photography Studio
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