Fragments of rammed-earth walls have been incorporated into the concrete exterior of Villagers' Home, a visitor centre in Zhejiang Province by The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University.
Located in Wanghu village on the site of several mud buildings once used for cultivating mushrooms, the project is part of a drive to encourage the revival of the area for both residents and tourists.
The centre is defined by gabled exposed concrete forms
Positioned on the footprint of the old mud houses, the gabled exposed concrete forms of the visitor centre were designed as a modern reinterpretation of the area's traditional wooden folk houses.
The new concrete buildings are positioned behind the remaining fragments of mud wall to appear as if they are "growing" from them, with the original openings framing views of the spaces behind. A tea room and function hall overlook a central courtyard
"The new building and the old walls complement each other, creating a harmonious interplay of visibility and invisibility," said the studio.
"Some remnants of the old walls expose glimpses of the past, while the new walls create an abstract blank background, highlighting the traces of time on the old walls."

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Inside Villagers' Home, the tea room and function hall overlook a central courtyard ...