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For some, architecture is an approach to the adaptive reuse and repurposing of ruined or abandoned buildings while preserving local cultures and landmarks. For many others, it was said that a network of commercial and public infrastructure holds the potential to create and facilitate community connections between different cohorts from different villages. 

### China and the Push for Rural Development and Revitalisation

Rural revitalisation is a critical component of the Chinese government's work plan. It is a strategy that aims to promote the sustainable development of the countryside, including creating a robust rural economy and promoting the equalisation of essential public services.

According to Professor He, a part of this policy means a greater focus on building public infrastructure and developing housing and land use in rural regions, aiming to reverse the population flow brought about by previous years of industrialisation and urbanisation.

As an architectural firm, 3andwich Design is engaged in rural revitalisation as a producer of spaces whose responsibility is to create and upgrade the infrastructure and environment conducive to local community building and a greater flow of capital, information, and people from and between urban and rural regions. Many of their projects are public structures and supporting tourism facilities to improve the quality of life, create employment, and attract more long-term and short-term population movements.

### Architecture as a Problem-solving Instrument in Rural Development

Regarding rural revitalisation projects, "architecture is often employed as a problem-solving mechanism that can address region-specific issues." Every region and project is unique in its problems and perspective on architecture's role in solving the issues. For some, architecture is an approach to the adaptive reuse and repurposing of ruined or abandoned buildings while preserving local cultures and landmarks. For many others, it was said that a network of commercial and public infrastructure holds the potential to create and facilitate community connections between different cohorts from different villages. At the same time, a new extension could mean more employment and tourism opportunities. But taking a holistic outlook, architecture is simply a vessel and facilitator of people and activities. It is just a piece of the puzzle that must be supported and aligned with regional strategic planning, business activities, and tourism products.

#### A case study of the Shangping Village

Shangping Village Regeneration, one of 3andwich Design's projects, is a great example.

Shangping Village, a historical and cultural village in Fujian Province, has thrived on its agricultural system and Hakka culture. The village is surrounded by water, and the Tai Fu Tai Mansion area is located in the heart of the town. However, the lack of public spaces like restaurants and visitor centres has impacted tourism and the local economy. To address this, the 3andwich design team revitalised unused spaces, transforming them into cultural and commercial areas.

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As part of the project's first phase, the 'Pigsty Bistro' was introduced. The building's exterior preserves original materials such as rubble and a wooden roof. Divided spaces now house a new bar, coffee tables, and a Kang table, creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Through contemporary interior design, the Bistro completely transformed the existing structure of a pigsty. Similarly, the 'Lotus Chamber' is a teahouse transformed from an existing utility room. The design retains the old rubble wall and replaces the non-recyclable wood structure, offering visitors a unique experience standing on a platform over a water pond filled with lotus flowers. These minor installations and curated interventions showcase the exciting and relevant adaptive reuse of design in Shangping village, preserving the memory of old buildings while repurposing the spaces for the community.

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In the project's second phase, the design team focused on creating the 'Gallery Pavilion.' Instead of "repairing old as old" or taking a modern trendy approach, they transformed agricultural buildings to complement the village's tourism and economic system. 

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For example, the 'Clouds Cafe' was built on the original debris shed by the pavilion, retaining the form of the local pergola. Visitors can enjoy pond views from this small, box-shaped cafe with a simple interior. The design features wooden windows, one side coloured and the other plain, connecting the internal and external spaces. Additionally, the renovation includes transforming the tobacco-curing house, a relic of the region's traditional agriculture, into an artistic ode to farming civilisation.

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Professor He believes the Shangping Village Regeneration project combines the cultural industry and spatial design to revitalise the village, attract tourists, and create a shared ground for all. By repurposing existing structures and preserving the memory of old buildings, the project breathes new life into the village while maintaining its historical and cultural significance.

### The Purpose of Lighting in Rural Architecture

Lighting is crucial yet somewhat secondary in the architectural design of rural China. More often than not, the role of lighting in these projects is to be modest and reserved in ways that put the architecture at the forefront. This is especially the case in rural revitalisation projects, where it is important to celebrate local culture and act as a medium to accentuate different forms of cultural expressions, such as traditional materials and landscape elements.


#### The quiet approach to light in the restoration and reconstruction of Liu Geng Tang Hall

The case study for this would be the reconstruction of Liu Geng Tang Hall – a project located in Hongguan village, Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province. At the entrance of Hongguan village, Liu Geng Tang Hall is the residence of Zhan Guohan, the third grandson of Zhan Chenggui, a master of ink-making in the late Qing Dynasty. As a building with a rich history, the project explores restoration, reconstruction, and utilisation of ancient residential buildings in a specific cultural background, in line with the needs of a modern homestay.



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Throughout the project, the lighting remains relatively minimal. It is warm and humble in its visual presence and is only a device to put the people's experience and interaction with a historic building as the primary focus. The main hall, for example, was renovated into a reading space. The plaque "Liu Geng Tang" on the top remains in its original place, effectively bringing out the theme. And the lighting employed was simply to accent the plaque and maintain a sense of functionality in the space. Similarly, in the chess room, lighting is a minor detail yet makes a big difference. With the light off, the wall surface is flat and plain; but a full moon emerges quietly as the light comes on.


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#### Creating drama in architecture with light and shadow at B Garden

When lighting isn't minimal or gentle, it can take a dramatic form to accentuate the building structure and architectural intents.

Located in Xin County, Henan Province, the B Garden is a hospitality project, part of the Dabie Mountains Outdoor Campground Park, which has been regarded as an important gateway to the Dabie Mountains National Hiking Trails. The site of B Garden is backed by small hills rich in vegetation, with a tea garden in front, a river that runs through the campground at a distance, and the mountains on the other side. B Garden consists of a series of buildings in horizontal layouts with displaced blocks and alternatively applied flat and gable roofs.


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Throughout the project, natural light and shade were carefully curated through multiple openings that connect the inside and out. In the cafe space, the red brick wall takes an alternating pattern, acting as a window, channelling a fascinating light feature into the interior. In other parts, the design invited contrast to the space through its signature circular openings, featured on the ceilings, walls, or along pathways. The design with light and shade strengthened the interest and drama of the building, which incited excitement in visitors to stop and take in their surroundings.

#### Celebrating light at the Shangping Village's Tobacco-curing House

In the case of Shangping Village's tobacco-curing house, for instance, the design placed lighting at the front and centre because the lighting was the local element to be celebrated. In the project, the team positioned a skylight on the slanted roof of the house. Built with stained glass, the skylight injects a dynamic and colourful line of lights into the space that moves in synchronisation with the sun's movement. Fun and exciting, the design intrigues visitors to look at the sun in a different light. Regarded as an artwork by its creators, the structure pays homage to the practice of farming; the installation expresses the importance of sunlight to agriculture and becomes a place for people to reflect on the relationship between humans and nature.


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### The Future of Rural Architecture

Without a doubt, Professor He regarded rural revitalisation as an ongoing mission, and with it comes many exciting architectural and lighting challenges. For him, China is a big country with different regions with different weather, conditions, and situations; because of that, the approach to architecture and design needs to take various forms, adaptive, responsive, and reflective of the local environments. At the end of the day, a project for rural development is about creating a sense of belonging between people and people as well as people and the local regions and culture.


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