The renovated streets and buildings in the Taoyangli historical and cultural district in Jingdezhen [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Walking along Dongsiling Street in the renovated Taoyangli historical and cultural district in Jingdezhen of Jiangxi province, one is immediately struck by the alternating blend of blackened red bricks and yellowing white plaster on the walls, which exudes a strong sense of history.
This street is a prime example of the special renovation plan undertaken by China Construction First Group Corporation Limited for this landmark area starting in 2019.
Kiln bricks play a fundamental role in restoring the historical appearance of this ancient cultural district. The renovation team adheres to the principle of "whole bricks go on the wall, broken bricks are used for paving street" to meticulously restore the ancient street.
The team employs a "traditional-modern-traditional" sandwich construction method. Modern techniques are applied to the middle layer of the wall, while the original paint on the inner and outer surfaces, cast iron components and worn wall surfaces are preserved as much as possible. Missing parts are filled in using old kiln bricks from the surrounding area, making the repaired sections indistinguishable from the original walls.
An alley in the Taoyangli historical and cultural district in Jingdezhen [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
In addition to the walls, the streets were also paved with a large number of original kiln bricks from a century ago. "On average, more than 140 bricks of various sizes are laid per square meter, some of which are glazed, adding to the visual richness," said Lyu Xiaolong, the executive manager of the renovation project.
The art of brickwork is even more prominently displayed at the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum in the Taoyangli historical and cultural district, which epitomizes the architectural aesthetics of "every square centimeter is unique".
The design inspiration for the Imperial Kiln Museum comes from traditional egg-shaped kilns and consists of eight multi-curved arch structures. Unlike simple geometric shapes, the museum employs complex hyperbolic surfaces, requiring the use of staggered brickwork and the assistance of gravity to complete the construction.
With the 1.9 million imitation antique bricks of various types and rich colors produced by the renovation team, along with the collected 0.9 million old kiln bricks, 11 prototype experiments were conducted, resulting in several improvements. The construction of the museum utilizes a special kiln brick dry-hanging technique, which is a patented technology of the company.
The Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum in the Taoyangli historical and cultural district [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
The Imperial Kiln Museum is the world's first building to utilize a complex hyperbolic structure. To ensure the precision of this intricate design, the project team employed advanced technologies such as BIM+MR (Building Information Modeling and Mixed Reality), layout robots, and 3D laser scanning for comprehensive quality control throughout the construction of the hyperbolic arches.
The museum's innovative design and meticulous construction earned it the prestigious 9th Architizer A+Awards in 2021 in the "Culture-Museum" category, often regarded as the "Oscars of architecture". Additionally, it was recognized as one of the "Top 10 Chinese Architecture Projects of 2020" by Dezeen, the world's leading architecture and design magazine.
Beyond the brickwork, the renovation of wooden architecture in the historical district adheres to the principle of preserving the original appearance. For partially decayed wooden structures, only the beams or trusses that are infested with termites or other pests are replaced. The original wood and structures that meet the structural safety standards are preserved, and new beams, columns, and trusses are installed in the original positions of the old ones.
For the 1,127 residential buildings constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the contemporary era, tailored restoration strategies were uniquely designed for each structure. These strategies take into account the layout and structural characteristics of each individual building to best showcase its historical features.
The site of an ancient imperial kiln [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Located in the Zhushan district of Jingdezhen, the Taoyangli historical and cultural district encompasses 108 ancient alleyways, kilns from the Ming and Qing dynasties over 400 years old, and ceramic industrial heritage spanning more than 70 years. Historically, it has been the center of porcelain production in the renowned "porcelain capital" of Jingdezhen.
Through continuous renovation, Taoyangli is attracting an increasing number of porcelain craftsmen and inheritors worldwide. A diverse array of ceramic products is continually injecting fresh vitality into the preservation of the intangible cultural heritage, making the art of ceramics a living tradition. According to statistics, in 2023, the Taoyangli historical and cultural district received a total of 4.42 million visitors, generating tourism revenue of 167.9 million yuan($23.2 million).
"The Taoyangli historical and cultural district has fused ceramic culture with modern tourism. By integrating elements of humanities, technology, and fashion into ceramic culture, it has developed new forms of cultural tourism. This has facilitated the transformation of the old district into a hub for cultural and creative industries and tourism services," said Zhou Jing, a deputy head of the Corporate Culture Department of the China Construction Group. "We can feel that Taoyangli has a rich scholarly atmosphere as well as a vibrant pulse of everyday life."
Source: China Daily