Two Sets of Buildings in the Pottery Factory
At the end of 2021, Professor Li Jianshen, founder of Jingdezhen Sanbao International Ceramic Village and a specially appointed professor at Jingdezhen Ceramic University, invited architects to visit the Poyum Ceramic Factory site as the overall project planners. The factory was undergoing a comprehensive upgrade and reconstruction.
The architectural design scope included two buildings: one was the Intangible Cultural Heritage Living Room building, whose foundation had already been excavated, determining its external outline and structural positioning; the other was the dragon kiln, previously covered with asbestos tiles, which urgently needed renovation to improve durability, aesthetics, and to support new functions.
The tradition of pottery making at Poyum traces back to the Xuejiagang culture 6,000 years ago and continues to thrive today. Its ceramic firing techniques are recognized as representative projects of the national intangible cultural heritage. Preserving traditional knowledge while showcasing these skills presented unique challenges in adjusting the Intangible Cultural Heritage Living Room plan and updating the dragon kiln canopy.
While preserving the original main building’s design outline, the architects refined the spatial relationship of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Living Room, creating a richer ground-level interface with a more intimate, family-friendly scale. The interior was streamlined to establish a continuous indoor-outdoor circulation path.
The dragon kiln canopy was redesigned to shield the kiln from wind and rain while supporting its functional needs. A high-level visitor walkway was integrated without disrupting kiln operations, offering a fresh vantage point for observing the dragon kiln.
Visitor Pathway
Looking east and west from behind the kiln, the existing dragon kiln’s construction dates back to the Qing Dynasty. Over its long history, it has endured multiple fires and repairs. Previously, lightweight, fire-resistant asbestos tiles were used for the kiln canopy to facilitate maintenance and fire prevention.
The spacing between the brick stacks supporting the greenhouse frame was designed based on kiln workers’ methods for adding firewood and placing pottery, considering the kiln door and chimney locations. The new design preserves the original brick spacing and structural form to protect traditional firing methods.
The existing Longyao roof truss features a common local herringbone pine wood structure, with each triangular frame supported by two sets of brick stacks below. A key renovation challenge was to maintain this original roof truss configuration while incorporating a visitor walkway.
After exploring various standard span structures, the final design added a winding visitor path above the dragon kiln without altering the original roof truss. The new roof truss height was carefully controlled, increasing by only 1.8 meters over the original.
From key vantage points around the factory, there is minimal difference in the skyline’s flow or canopy height between the new and original roof trusses. The dragon kiln remains the dominant feature controlling the skyline, while the carefully height-managed new structures avoid visual disruption.
Scene Narrative
The design creates a dialogue between kiln workers operating inside and behind the Dragon Kiln and visitors walking along the roof truss, forming two parallel circulation paths. These paths intersect visually at several points but remain physically separate to comply with safety requirements, with no connecting platforms designed between them.
Visitors ascend stairs from the brick building adjacent to the small theater at the kiln entrance. After two turns, they traverse the kiln’s rear with expansive views. The visitor path’s east or west placement was carefully selected considering external building heights and internal sightlines.
The turning points and expanded nodes in the visitor route correspond to the Dragon Kiln Meridian Gate’s position. A viewing platform overlooking the square and Tianzhu Mountain is located at Dawu Gate in the midsection, while three consecutive platforms near the dragon head at Xiaowu Gate offer comprehensive views. An outdoor tea room at the end of the dragon head route provides another perspective of the park and Tianzhu Mountain.
Currently, the completed passage allows visitors to experience sightseeing and kiln observation. Future plans include adding pottery galleries, long-table banquets, fashion shows, and more.
Memory Reproduction — Material Expression
The widespread stacking of pottery jars throughout the factory, the texture of kiln bricks, and the masonry techniques of arches and partition walls inside the dragon kiln provide rich inspiration for designers. Translating these elements into contemporary architectural language is a significant project challenge.
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Living Room complements the Dragon Kiln’s functions and spaces. The design incorporates multiple “kiln”-themed areas, such as the “Kiln Road” along the visitor path, the arched space of the international exhibition hall, and a bathroom beneath the dome. Together with the Longyao roof truss, these spaces complete the entire pottery factory tour.
This project uses a restrained architectural form and material palette that harmonizes with the site. With protection of the intangible cultural heritage and the millennium-old dragon kiln as priorities, the design integrates these elements into a contemporary living environment, enhancing public display functions, increasing tourism, and expanding usage scenarios.
Project Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ Plan view
△ Analysis chart
Project Information
Architect: Grey Space Architecture
Area: 2,150 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographers: Ke Jianbo, Yan Sen, Li Jianshen
Manufacturer: Suzhou Yunke Prefabricated Construction Engineering Co., Ltd
Chief Planners: Li Jianshen, Tian Weiwei
Lead Architects: Liu Moyan, Su Peng
Project Architect: Yan Sen
Lighting Consultant: Hu Jing
Landscape Designer: Zhai Jun
Dragon Kiln Design Team: Ying Shijiao, Yan Sen
Intangible Cultural Heritage Living Room Design Team: Ju Anqi, Li Yuanyuan, Mo Xian, Chen Kaiqi
Millennium Wall and Gate: Tu Rui, Xie Fei, et al.
Mechanical and Electrical Design: Ruiwen Engineering Design Firm
Exhibition Graphic Design (Intangible Cultural Heritage Living Room): Guo Yuchuan, Wei Wenqing, Song Xianmao, Hu Yisheng
Project Planning: Jingdezhen Puyuan Cultural Media Co., Ltd
Client: People’s Government of Poyum Township, Qianshan City; Li Jianshen Studio of Sanbao International Ceramics Village, Jingdezhen
Structural Consultant: iStructure
Construction Drawing Design: Shanghai Kaiyi Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Location: Qianshan City
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