Interview about Artisan Echoes Culture Street, winner of the A' City Planning and Urban Design Award 2023
This project is based on the coordination of the needs of tourists visiting the Purple Pottery Industrial Park and the residents living nearby. The designer observes the production facilities of Purple Pottery and uses artistic creativity to incorporate their appearance into the modern design of the buildings. At the same time, the design respects the natural environment and arranges the buildings according to the original topography, creating a unique cultural and creative block with diverse functions such as cultural exhibitions, art workshops, and specialty dining.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsPreserving the original topography was the conceptual anchor of the project. Instead of imposing a rigid urban grid, the buildings gently follow the contours of the site, rising and receding with the terrain. This approach not only reduces excavation and environmental disruption but also gives the architecture a rhythmic, organic quality — much like the hand-formed surfaces of Purple Pottery itself. By embedding the cultural street within its natural landscape, the project evokes the spirit of Yunnan’s craftsmanship: humble, grounded, and deeply responsive to nature. The result is an environment where visitors feel the authenticity of place — a dialogue between handmade artistry and the living land that sustains it.
The creative inspiration originated directly from the physical and cultural landscape of Purple Pottery production — the “dragon kiln,” the pottery workshops, and the earthy materials that define the craft. The dragon kiln, stretching along the slope, inspired the linear, ascending spatial sequence of the cultural street, where architecture seems to rise and flow with the terrain, echoing the rhythm of firing chambers. The pottery workshops, with their open layouts and honest material expression, informed the transparent facades and courtyard compositions, fostering interaction between artisans and visitors.Materially, the project draws upon the chromatic richness of clay — purples, ochres, and terracotta tones — embedding these hues into the architectural skin through locally produced ceramic tiles and textured finishes. The repetition of brick modules and ceramic louvers transforms functional references into a cohesive architectural language. In essence, the design reinterprets the form, process, and materiality of Purple Pottery into a contemporary expression that celebrates its artisanal roots while engaging a modern audience.
The staggered layout creates a sequence of spatial encounters that feel natural and immersive. As visitors ascend and descend along the sloping paths, framed views open toward the surrounding hills, pottery courtyards, and water features. Each terrace offers a different perspective — some intimate and shaded, others expansive and ceremonial. The layered elevation enhances ventilation and daylighting while minimizing visual intrusion into the skyline. This topography-driven design transforms movement into narrative: visitors intuitively experience the relationship between craft, community, and landscape. It’s a cultural promenade where every elevation change tells a story about the land and the people who shape it.
I approached the program as a “woven fabric” rather than discrete zones. Exhibition halls form the cultural spine of the complex, interlinked with semi-open courtyards where workshops spill out into public view. This permeability allows visitors to observe the making process while maintaining smooth operational flow for artisans. Specialty dining and retail spaces are strategically distributed along pedestrian arteries, ensuring a steady rhythm of activity and rest. By layering functions vertically — workshops on lower terraces, exhibitions at mid-levels, and dining with panoramic terraces above — the design achieves a balanced ecosystem of culture, commerce, and leisure. The transitions between these functions are seamless, encouraging spontaneous exploration.
Parametric modeling was key to adapting traditional motifs to the complex topography. It allowed us to adjust roof curvature, façade rhythm, and shading patterns to both solar orientation and terrain contours. We also used 3D printing to prototype terracotta façade modules and ceramic cladding details, ensuring material authenticity while optimizing assembly precision. These tools bridged the gap between handcrafted aesthetics and modern efficiency — enabling forms that resonate with tradition yet meet contemporary performance standards. The combination of digital precision and artisanal imperfection defines the project’s aesthetic language: a digital craft reborn from ancient skill.
The design balances tourism and local life by creating a shared cultural interface. Public plazas and shaded promenades welcome visitors while remaining integral parts of residents’ daily circulation. Workshops operate as both productive and educational spaces — artisans work in open studios where tourists can observe or participate, generating mutual respect and dialogue. Community gardens and small courtyards provide locals with quiet respite amid cultural activities. Additionally, local dining and retail spaces prioritize regional produce and handmade goods, ensuring that economic benefits flow back into the community. This dual-use design transforms the site into a living, breathing ecosystem rather than a tourist spectacle.
Artisan Echoes Culture Street proposes a new model for cultural district development — one that prioritizes craft-based urbanism and topographic integration over large-scale demolition or homogenized construction. It demonstrates how traditional industries can be revitalized through design, not displaced. By framing craft production as an anchor for community identity, the project inspires other regions to rediscover their local materials, artisanal skills, and ecological contexts as development assets. Internationally, it contributes to a broader conversation about how cultural heritage can coexist with contemporary lifestyles — positioning design as both preservation and innovation.
The greatest challenge was translating the expressive quality of traditional timber architecture — its proportion, eaves, and courtyard hierarchy — into a modern structural and material system. Instead of literal imitation, I abstracted these elements. Roofs adopt a gentle curvature suggestive of vernacular silhouettes but use modern lightweight steel substructures. Wooden details are reinterpreted through terracotta fins and perforated screens that recall latticework while meeting current performance standards. The courtyard typology was preserved as a spatial principle rather than a stylistic one — ensuring natural light, ventilation, and social interaction. Through these calibrated transformations, the design maintains authenticity without nostalgia.
I treated culture as the connective tissue between commerce and leisure. Rather than zoning entertainment as a separate layer, I embedded cultural cues into every function. Retail fronts double as exhibition showcases; cafés feature pottery displays and craft demonstrations; and open-air stages animate the evenings with performances drawn from local traditions. The pedestrian network itself becomes a storytelling path — interspersed with rest platforms, gardens, and pavilions that invite pause and reflection. This layered approach creates a refined yet approachable environment where leisure is enriched by culture and everyday consumption becomes an act of cultural appreciation.
Sustainability in this project extends beyond environmental performance to cultural continuity. Architecturally, buildings use locally sourced materials — terracotta, bamboo, and recycled brick — reducing transport energy while reinforcing local identity. The modular structural system allows spaces to be reconfigured as production or exhibition needs evolve. More importantly, the street’s operational model supports long-term cultural vitality: training centers and residency programs are embedded within the plan to mentor new artisans and attract cross-disciplinary collaboration. Rainwater harvesting, passive cooling, and green roofs further ensure environmental resilience. Thus, Artisan Echoes Culture Street is not a static artifact but a living platform — designed to grow with its culture.
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