01 Dongfeng Building Renovation | Preserving and Renewing a Century-Old Prestigious School
△ Yunhe Middle School History Museum: Dongfeng Building © Archie
Located in the southwest of Zhejiang Province, Yunhe County in Lishui City is a place rich in natural beauty and deep cultural heritage. Surrounded by flowing streams and mountains, Yunhe County has preserved the profound essence of Jiangnan culture through the ages, embodying a serene, almost hermit-like environment embraced by clouds and mist.
Top view of Dongfeng Building © Archie
Yunhe Middle School, nestled among terraced fields and surrounded by mountains and water, benefits from a naturally moist environment. The school carries forward the educational legacy of Tao Xingzhi, a renowned educator, fostering generations with the spirit of free education. While the campus architecture has undergone extensive renovation, teachers and students alike hope to revitalize the school’s history and culture through thoughtful spatial design.
△ Aerial view of Yunhe Middle School: perched on a plateau, surrounded by mountains © Archie
The simple campus and vibrant activities create cherished memories for generations © Fengjian
In 2020, Fengjian Architectural Firm was commissioned to renovate the school history museum within Dongfeng Building, aiming to honor individuality and diversity in this high school. The renovation reflects the school’s heritage while illuminating contemporary cultural values and characteristics.
△ Night view of Dongfeng Building after renovation © Archie
△ Renovated interior of the school history museum © Archie
Despite challenges such as dense enrollment schedules and pandemic impacts extending the project timeline, Yunhe Middle School provided robust support throughout. The school history museum now serves as a cultural vessel, preserving traditions and blending the spirit of family, school, and education within Dongfeng Building’s humanistic history.
Facade of Dongfeng Building © Archie
02 School History Museum Exhibition | A Multifunctional Space Combining Flexibility and Unity
Yunhe Middle School fosters individual growth while honoring its educational heritage. The reformed school boasts a comprehensive and distinctive curriculum alongside diverse cloud-based cultural activities. Accordingly, the school envisioned the history museum’s function to align closely with this dynamic environment.
Design principles for the school history museum: Adaptive development, harmony in diversity © Archie
Warm wooden walls and ceilings dominate the interior’s material palette © Archie
△ The space evokes a soft, elegant texture © Wang Jian
The school history museum supports four main functions: daily activities for teachers and students, historical and cultural exhibitions, alumni gatherings, and festival events. It has become an organically integrated part of the campus, complementing the surrounding buildings with a unified yet distinctive architectural style.
Unique cloud-inspired design and distinctive interior space of the school history museum © Archie
△ The design conveys warmth, a sense of home and school, and a shared commitment to education © Archie
The exhibition hall consists of four main zones: the model and physical exhibition hall, the historical axis exhibition hall, the alumni and multimedia exhibition hall, and a temporary exhibition space.
△ Model and Physical Exhibition Hall © Wang Jian
△ Historical Axis Exhibition Hall © Wang Jian
Alumni Activities and Multimedia Exhibition Hall © Archie
Temporary exhibition hall © Archie
The exhibition layout features a clear, two-way loop, blending flexibility with coherence. Visitors can freely navigate, enjoying smooth transitions between exhibition areas.
Exhibition flow with a bidirectional loop shape © Fengjian
Visitors progress through the exhibition from the reception hall to the model and physical exhibition hall, then to the historical axis exhibition hall, followed by the multimedia hall, and finally the temporary exhibition space. The journey smoothly transitions from models to artifacts, historical timelines, and multimedia displays, offering a comprehensive understanding of the school’s history.
△ Preface Hall of the School History Museum © Archie
Tao Xingzhi’s educational philosophy of “saving the country through education” and “using both hands and brains” is the source of his ideas © Archie
△ Exhibition Hall Preface © Archie
Wei Lan inherited the “spirit of Xinhai” and initiated modern education in Yunhe, serving as the school’s spiritual pulse © Archie
The vertically deep historical axis exhibition hall invites visitors to immerse themselves in history as they walk © Archie
The multimedia exhibition hall highlights faculty achievements and features an electronic alumni directory © Wang Jian
Each exhibition area is tailored to its content and display style. The model exhibition features a solid, square platform; the historical axis exhibits use flexible, streamlined display tables; and the multimedia area offers an immersive experience.
The square, solid model exhibition booth showcases the campus sand table © Wang Jian
The historical axis exhibition tables feature flexible, streamlined designs © Wang Jian
The spatial layout effectively utilizes the existing structure, maximizing natural light and ventilation. The design also accommodates diverse visitor needs, allowing the Cloud and School History Museum to transcend conventional boundaries.
View toward the historical axis exhibition hall from the model booth © Wang Jian
03 Interior and Exterior Details | Reflecting Clouds and Spirit Through Thoughtful Design
The exterior of Dongfeng Building has been restored to its original appearance © Wang Jian
Defining cultural themes clearly is essential. Once the humanistic essence that the school history museum aims to express is identified, understanding the campus’s history and culture becomes paramount. Fengjian’s design seeks harmony between the cloud-inspired museum and its environment, unifying the original building’s exterior and interior.
The exterior and interior spaces of Dongfeng Building harmonize beautifully © Archie
Yunhe Middle School’s natural setting, embraced by mountains and waterways, makes it an ideal educational environment. The school history museum embraces this by restoring the building’s historic appearance.
Dongfeng Tower surrounded by a century-old maple forest © Archie
Dongfeng Bridge in front of Dongfeng Building © Archie
The indoor design draws inspiration from Yunhe County’s natural beauty. Patterns, structures, and textures are sourced from the local historical, cultural, and natural landscapes, transforming Jiangnan’s mountains and rivers into architectural language unique to Yunhe.
Exploring spatial patterns and textures inspired by Yunhe’s historical, cultural, and natural landscapes © Archie
△ Natural design inspiration: geometric forms like curves, arches, and sloped roofs harmonize interior and exterior © Wang Jian
The grand staircase and lobby leading into the exhibition space create a powerful first impression. The use of wooden ceilings and walls establishes a warm atmosphere, while light gray slate near the floor evokes layers of cloud seas.
Entrance to the School History Museum © Archie
In the early design phase, Fengjian embraced “clouds” as a symbol of nature and personal growth. The environment nurtures students to reach lofty heights, metaphorically touching the clouds.
The temporary exhibition hall features a cloud-shaped ceiling, ensuring “sunshine” even on rainy days and nights © Archie
The museum’s lighting combines various types to create a rich atmosphere © Fengjian
Elements such as local terraced fields and seas of clouds are transformed into architectural language that captures the essence of the school’s history. The stepped ceiling in the exhibition hall uniquely abstracts the terraced landscape, layering the space while following the original sloped roof’s form.
△ Tianzi grid ceiling in model and physical exhibition halls © Archie
△ Interior elements inspired by seas of clouds, mountains, forests, and terraced fields © Fengjian
The zigzag exhibition wall in the prologue displays valuable photos and images from key historical moments. Physical artifacts such as school badges, medals, old newspapers, documents, and magazines are showcased in various display tables. Near exterior windows and partitions, calligraphy, stone carvings, plaques, and other works illustrate the school motto, teaching philosophy, and cultural spirit. A central sand table model illustrates the campus’s development over time.
The zigzag exhibition wall in the prologue showcases precious photos and key historical moments © Archie
△ Various exhibition tables display artifacts such as school badges, medals, old newspapers, documents, and magazines © Wang Jian
Campus sand table in the exhibition hall © Wang Jian
The main exhibition wall features a historical axis display highlighting the school’s development and milestones. A window-side booth presents teaching achievements, medals, and teacher honors. The central “S”-shaped display stand exhibits historical materials and objects since the school’s founding, complemented by personal exhibitions of influential figures, forming the heart of the historical axis hall.
△ Richly curated exhibitions in the school history museum © Fengjian
△ Historical Axis Exhibition Hall: The central wall presents key events from the school’s founding in 1938 to today © Archie
Electronic display screens showcase alumni interviews, graduation photos, and feature introductions of former principals and notable alumni through multimedia. Additionally, a small communication area accommodates 5-10 people for alumni events, themed discussions, and intimate gatherings.
Multimedia and Alumni Activity Exhibition Hall © Archie
These versatile spaces foster intergenerational communication, connecting alumni through innovative multimedia exhibitions and enriching campus life.
Multimedia and alumni activity halls promote exchanges across generations © Wang Jian
The cultural space’s reproduction reflects and nurtures the culture itself. Fengjian Architectural Firm hopes Yunhe Middle School will use the history museum to deepen interactions among teachers, students, and generations, cultivating wisdom and preserving the spirit of the school.
Project Information
Project Name: Zhejiang Yunhe Middle School History Museum Renovation
Owner: Zhejiang Yunhe Middle School
Location: Yunhe County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province
Design Firm: Shanghai Fengjian Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Design Period: August 2020
Construction Period: June 2023
Design Area: 500 square meters
Lead Architect: Zhu Feng
Design Team: Chen Chen, Li Jiqiang, Qiu Yu
Resident Designer: Qiu Yu
Art Consultant: Hangzhou Youda Culture Yaji Development Co., Ltd
Collaborators: Suzhou Shuimu Exhibition and Shanghai Hongzhu Architectural Decoration
Photography: 1988 Photography Workshop, Blue Uncle Photography
Main Materials and Brands: Aluminum alloy ceiling (Leshilong); Flooring (Beisen); Latex paint (Nippon Paint); Wood veneer (Keding)
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