This project offers a fresh visual reinterpretation of a contemporary historical and cultural district. Every stone and tile touched and reclaimed here carries a vibrant life story. This space acts as a silent recorder, chronicling the gradual disappearance of life over the past century.
Situated in the historic Damaojiao district in the southeast of Datong Ancient City, this project revitalizes a vacant, abandoned site by transforming it into a public space rich with historical memories.
This space functions as a unique cultural and artistic exhibition. By delving into the site’s history and interpreting it anew, fragmented old artifacts and stories from the ancient city’s renovation are displayed throughout the site, offering fresh perspectives. The integration of new materials creates a distinctive spatial experience where history and the present coexist, establishing a commemorative contemporary cultural space that encourages interaction and reflection on both past and future.
The site lies at the entrance of Damaojiao in southeast Datong Ancient City, surrounded by a well-preserved block of traditional residential buildings showcasing a complete historical style. To the west runs Gulou East Street, home to the Datong Guandi Temple, while to the north it borders the Weibei Research Institute. Despite years of abandonment, this area represents a rare public space amidst the renovation of the ancient city’s historic district.
The design concept stems from the designer’s first impressions of the site. At the project’s outset, restoration had begun, with building materials scattered across the ground and the once lively neighborhood now dilapidated. Every broken wall, tile, and old object silently conveyed the atmosphere of past life. Beyond restoration, the design aimed to “leave something behind.” To the designers, every stone and relic embodies precious cultural symbols, transformed here into elements of landscape value.
The Vanishing Garden: Public spaces thrive on human interaction, and this project addresses how to bring vitality into enclosed courtyard spaces. Inspired by the concept of growth, the layout features a ground-level display area alongside an elevated visual corridor raised 5.35 meters above. Materials transition from old to new, emphasizing the passage of time. The collected and exhibited old objects are preserved here to gradually fade away over the next 100 years, slowly blending into the universe and dissolving into the long river of history.
The design is divided into four main areas: the ground display space, a waterscape square, the elevated visual corridor, and an upper mirrored grandstand. The ground display materials are all sourced from the site, carefully selected and arranged by the designer to showcase historical artifacts. The waterscape square connects closely to the corridor, serving as a gathering and circulation hub for pedestrians. The corridor rises gradually, fostering a dynamic interaction with the square, offering interpretive opportunities while expressing respect for life and culture.
The corridor wraps around a U-shaped space on the second floor, connecting visually and spatially with the ground. This design invites visitors to walk through and pause, fostering deeper interaction between historic objects and viewers. At the end of the path, and the highest point of the site, a mirrored box seemingly disappears into the skyline, seamlessly blending into the surroundings. From the grandstand, visitors overlook the fifth façade of the ancient city, prompting reflections on distant memories that may seem lost but endure in the minds of generations.
This project exemplifies a bold new approach to revitalizing historic district spaces. It creates an interactive cultural hub that respects and preserves the site’s deepest historical memories while inspiring visitors to reflect on both past and future. The result is a site enriched with unique charm and artistic value.
Project Drawings
△ Hand-drawn sketch
△ Location map
△ Model view
△ Model view
△ Aerial view
△ General layout plan
△ Local rendering
△ Detailed drawing
△ Detailed drawing
△ Detailed drawing
△ Detailed drawing
Project Information
Landscape Design: Elephant Realm Design
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Yang Can
Client: Huaxia Jianghong (Datong) Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd
Construction Unit: Luzhou Hongmao Engineering Project Management Co., Ltd
Location: Datong
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