html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Chinese architecture studio Archermit has converted a former veterinary station into an agricultural talent center in Anyu, China. Named An Yue Qianlong·Guanzihe Village Agricultural Talent Center, the 705 project is located Guanzihe Village, Qianlong Town. The project site, which is in Guanzihe Village, Qianlong Town, An Yue County, Sichuan, was the location of several sizable pig farms that have since been abandoned. The Agricultural Talent Center was once a 1,600-square-meter patio that served as a veterinarian station for these farms.Aerial viewDespite years of neglect, the ground floor of the main building, which was built using traditional dry-stacked local stone, remained structurally solid. The main building's second floor and a single-story extension that was erected more than 20 years ago had largely collapsed and were unsafe. The annex was made of brick and concrete.Undulating curved rooflineGuanzihe Village is the center of the production of lemons, which are An Yue's most recognizable industry. The town is now a demonstration zone for striking a balance between growing lemons and grains in order to strengthen the local lemon industry's influence and comply with national regulations that prohibit "non-agricultural use" of farmland and guarantee that basic farmland is kept for staple crops. Aerial viewAn agricultural supply store, a specialty product exhibition, e-commerce livestreaming, smart agriculture control, lemon culture exhibits, agricultural training, and farm tractor rentals are just a few of the uses for the proposed Agricultural Talent Center. The veterinary clinic, which was the area's entrance and was located next to the village's main road, was abandoned for many years. It was the perfect choice for revival due to its strategic position and moderate scale.Exterior of the building after renovationAccording to the studio's experience in architectural practice, it's critical to differentiate between three states for such renovation projects: "aged," "damaged," and "deteriorated.""Aged" implies normal wear and tear over time, which is not a bad thing but rather adds historical significance; "Damaged" denotes a structurally sound item that has partially deteriorated but is still repairable; and "Deteriorated" implies irreparable deterioration. Making these differences clear allows for customized approaches to older building revitalization.Aerial viewUsing design as a tool to draw tourists and revitalize the countryside, the majority of rural revitalization initiatives nowadays include cultural tourism components, mainly aimed at out-of-town tourists or urbanites from surrounding areas.Serving the local industry, farmers, and aspiring agricultural professionals who will relocate to the area is what distinguishes the Agricultural Talent Center. By offering useful areas that promote the growth of regional industry, it seeks to meet pragmatic demands. The structure must have a strong feeling of local identity and visibility because it serves as the "gateway" to the agricultural park. Despite the importance of aesthetics, cost reduction is still a crucial factor in its development.Building after renovation at nightRenovation StrategyThe studio made the decision to remove the badly collapsed annex and the structurally problematic brickwork on the second level of the main structure after conducting an on-site study of the former veterinary station. The main building's ground level, which was made of rubble stone masonry, was still intact. To facilitate the quick building of the Rural Talent Center, a new steel and timber structure was added.Veterinary station before renovationPhase One: The annex will be demolished, the roof, floor slab, and brick masonry from the main building's second floor will be removed, the original structural beams will be preserved, and damaged sections of the ground floor's stone walls will be repaired. Phase Two: Recasting floor slabs, installing steel columns inside the existing stone walls, and concurrently building the sunken slab for the restrooms. The former veterinary station after renovationPhase Three: The steel structure for the agricultural equipment canopy is hoisted and installed, and the main building's curved roof truss system and second-floor steel structure are erected.Phase Four: Installing timber roof frames for the main building and the annex; erecting fair-faced red brick walls on the second story of the main building. Building after renovationPhase Five: Fitting windows, doors, and steel stairs; finishing the interior and exterior; installing wooden roof panels and traditional little blue tiles. The entire veterinary station was completely renovated and turned into a thriving community center in just 57 days. Today, it offers the villagers a wide range of services, such as live-streamed produce sales, farm equipment rentals and sales, agricultural knowledge training, and agricultural supplies (pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds).Aerial viewPlace-Based ConstructionThe studio nevertheless wanted to design a building that was unique and blended in with its surroundings, even with a constrained budget, a short timeline, and a construction crew composed primarily of local people. The design team started by thoroughly investigating the skills of the building crew, the accessibility of nearby materials, and the technological prowess of nearby processing workshops. After that, the design planning was modified appropriately.Undulating curved rooflineIn fact, a few of the older but still physically fit villagers had contributed to the construction of the first veterinary clinic many years prior. Since there aren't many competent stonemasons in the countryside these days, the ground floor's dry-stone construction was left to the few surviving artisans. Fortunately, the kind of stone that was used was still accessible in the area, so the team was able to see a sight that brought back memories of a time when stone homes were constructed completely by hand. The building was given a poignant feeling of history and craftsmanship by the sound of hand hammers striking stone and the old masons' rhythmic work chants.The hills are dotted with joyful bursts of yellowWhile parts of the interior partition walls, which had previously divided six rooms on the ground floor, were taken down to make place for new functional layouts, the outside stone walls were mainly left intact. The ground level's freshly laid concrete floor slab was purposefully left uncovered, resulting in a dramatic contrast between the new and the old that complemented the ancient stone well. The interior was given a dynamic yet grounded spatial character by the addition of sturdy OSB shelves and bright lemon-yellow polycarbonate panels.The dry-stone masonryThe design team used the same technique from twenty years ago to rebuild the exposed red brick walls on the second story of the main structure. Even though the building isn't very old, we nonetheless wanted to keep evidence of its development. The new red brick walls were constructed by some of the village's most talented bricklayers. The dry-stone masonryTo the satisfaction and happiness of the builders, who enjoyed the admiration of their fellow villagers for a considerable amount of time, the finished product was so beautifully completed that it exceeded the excellence of the original building. The agricultural shed and main building's undulating curved roofing was modeled after the seedling greenhouses dotted over the surrounding farmland. Robust OSB shelvingFree-spirited and lively, the dark gray roof's rhythmic waves mimic the shapes of the nearby hills or ripples across a lotus pond. It drastically changed the old buildings' drab massing and became a noticeable landmark in the community, particularly when viewed from the adjacent Yuelin Road. With its multiple levels, the agricultural shed's roof was also ingeniously constructed to meet the space requirements of various farming equipment. The shed's roof was constructed using ordinary fir planks that had been burned, cleaned, and covered with protective varnish in order to save money, simplify the construction process, and expedite the process. The exposed red brick wallsThe main building's roof included tiny blue tiles on top of a traditional timber truss structure that is typical in Sichuan. The new building was closely tied to the traditional dwellings of the nearby villages thanks to the subtle yet harmonious aesthetic established by the grain and texture of the dark timber combined with the blue tiles.The exposed red brick wallsA Splash of Color in the CountrysideThe countryside is always a kaleidoscope of colors in our memories, thanks to the fruits and wildflowers that blossom throughout the seasons as well as the verdant crops and plants. The plentiful lemon harvests in Guanzihe Village are well-known, as Archermit explained.There are happy bursts of color on the hills during picking season. We believed that the establishment of the Rural Talent Center would give the village a youthful, upbeat presence in its surroundings and bring new life and vitality to the area, according to the team.Aerial viewPlayful colors like brilliant yellows and fresh greens can also be used in the inclusive rural areas of Sichuan, where white walls and blue tiles are commonplace. The team included the village's distinctive crop, lemon-yellow, as a major visual component into the center's layout. In addition to making the surrounding foliage appear even more lush and the sky more strikingly blue, this yellow creates feelings of freshness, vitality, and peace. More significantly, it conveys to guests the friendliness and openness of Guanzihe Village and the village's character as a lemon-growing community right away. Undulating curved rooflineThe explosion of yellow extends from the curved eaves to the hallways and stairways that link to the main structure. It connects the center's main programmatic components—the multipurpose hall, the "Craft & Nature" maker area, and the agricultural equipment shed—both aesthetically and practically. Carbonized wood roofThroughout the circulation route, the lemon yellow serves as a guide. The yellow becomes the new darling of the town when night falls because it glows even more brilliantly under the lights and envelops the gently curved shape of the Rural Talent Center with an almost sexy flare. Its warm glow lights up the village entrance like a lamp in the dark, and we hope it will keep Guanzihe Village's path bright going forward.Different heights of arches correspond to different agricultural machineryThe hills are dotted with joyful bursts of yellowThe Agricultural Talent Center under the NightfallThe light passing through the grille resembles the effect of a lanternIntroduced the lemon-yellow color in spatial designSecond floor passageSecond floor exhibition galleryLocal Agricultural Exhibition HallA device with alternating yellow and green colorsNight lanternThe Agricultural Talent Center under the NightfallOriginal ground floor planGround floor planSecond floor planSectionElevationsPreviously, Chinese architecture studio Archermit imagined an exhibition building as "a huge bamboo tree" at the center in Sichuan, China. In addition, the firm completed a public building that features white slender columns, creating "a bamboo forest" and elevated cloud-like elevated platforms in Longmenshan Town, Pengzhou city, Sichuan Province, China. Project factsProject name: An Yue Qianlong·Guanzihe Village Agricultural Talent Center Architects: ArchermitLocation: Anyu, China Lead Architect: Pan YoucaiDesign Director: Yang Zhe (Partner)Technical Director: Chen Renzhen (Partner)Structural Engineer: Du XuDesign Team: Hu Qinmei, Zhao Yaxian, Yang Rui, Gou Yuanjun, Liu Zixuan, Huang Yuting, Feng YutaoConstruction Drawings: Chengdu Meixia Architectural Design Co., Ltd.Client: Sichuan Puyuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd.Construction Contractor: Sichuan Ningdu Junhua Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. Text: Pan Youcai, Xiangxin GeProject Location: Guanzihe Village, Qianlong Town, Anyue County, Sichuan ProvinceGross Floor Area: 705 m² (including the agricultural machinery shed)Materials: Red brick, rubble masonry, traditional blue tiles, steel plate, wooden shingles, paintCompletion Date: April 2023The top image in the article: The hills are dotted with joyful bursts of yellow.All images & drawings © Archermit.> via Archermit