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Revival of Pingtian Village in Songyang County Sun, et al.

cautious exterior design, the interior of the that the fire protection design was not
building has undergone relatively bold qualified. The second floor of the hostel has
changes: the partitions in the original building been idle and closed until 2021, when it was
have been removed, and the building has gradually converted into a cultural exhibition
changed from an originally divided room to a space.
large open-planned room. The youth hostel on Public space is crucial for village
the second floor implanted three groups of renovation. At the center of this group of
“rooms within room” spatial elements into the buildings, there is a triangular land, which
traditional house. The “rooms within room” is spontaneously formed a public space with
a living unit of the bunk bed in the youth several transformations of buildings and
hostel, each unit can accommodate about six businesses. Before 2014, this triangular land
people. These units are constructed of was an insignificant site overgrown with
lightweight materials, which can be weeds where villagers passed by it every day.
disassembled and moved. In order to maintain Due to the closure of surrounding buildings,
the characteristics of transparent space, the it did not become a space for villagers’ public
units adopted a new translucent material. The activities. The very inconspicuous triangular
comparison of the new translucent material land was not considered by the planning team
with the thick earth walls adds visual at first. After several renovations, the
extension. In addition, translucent materials triangular land was surrounded by buildings
and casual voids on them can liven up the with different functions, including the Papa’s
atmosphere and make the youth hostel more Hostel, Yunhaijian Guesthouse, and
interesting to stay [13] . Teahouse. The outdoor space and the indoor
public space had formed a close linkage, and
the public attributes of the triangular land had
emerged, becoming the most popular public
space in Pingtian Village. The appearance of
this public space is a surprise to us. Its
development is a spontaneous process,
gradually formed in the process of planning
and operation. It can be said that it provides a
new inspiration for future village planning.

3. CONCLUSION: IGNITING THE

SPARKS
Figure 17. “Rooms in room.” Source: Photo provided The vitalization of traditional villages
by 3andwich Design
requires close cooperation among the
The county government has strongly government, the villagers, and the designers.
opposed to Professor He’s design. The In order to ensure the long-term development
concept of “rooms within room” is a valuable of the village, it is crucial to find new sources
exploration of the renovation of traditional of income for villagers beside agriculture.
buildings, but the problem of privacy caused Rural revitalization should always focus on
by mixing genders and translucent materials the villagers, develop the local culture and
has not been solved properly. Obviously, such industry to improve the living conditions of
[14]
a design is unacceptable for a village that has the residents . In Pingtian, every
just come into contact with modern society. stakeholder played their role: the planners set
Although the Papa’s Hostel was finally built, the boundaries for design from the
the county government worried that such a perspective of conservation; the government
design would have a negative impact on improved public facilities; the designers
Pingtian village and even Songyang, they ignited the sparks for vitalization. Last but not
blocked the hostel operation on the grounds least, for the sparks to become a fire, it

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