Architects: Architecture School of Southeast University, Atelier XÜK
Area: 2435 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Atelier XÜK
Manufacturers: Yixing DingCheng Bricks Industry CO.,LTD., Yixing Juntao Research Institute
Lead Architects: Xu Zhang, Kenan Liu
Interior Design: Fengyuzhu
Interior Design Consultant: Atelier XÜK
Landscape Design: Atelier XÜK, Jiangsu Henghong Construction Consulting CO., LTD
Category: Museum, Preservation Site, Heritage
Historical Research and Project Scheme: Xu Zhang, Yang Shen
Design Team: Xiaoxia Shi, Yiming Yang, Shiyun Sun, Lanxi Li, Hua Xu, Yin Song, Tianze Yu, Tao Zhang, Ang Li, Xinqi Dong, Tong Niu (Intern), Yuanlanyi Zhao (Intern)
Clients: Construction Bureau of Dingshu Town
Exhibition: Fengyuzhu
City: Wuxi
Country: China
Huanglong Mountain·Zisha Mineral Source Museum, designed by Architecture School of Southeast University and Atelier XÜK in Dingshu Town, Yixing City, preserves the industrial and cultural legacy of Zisha clay mining at the historical No. 4 mine site. Inspired by the terrain shaped by Taihu Lake and Tianmu Mountain, the design reflects the cultural, geological, and material context of the region. The museum follows a conservation strategy of minimum intervention, historical restoration, and activation, transforming the former mine into an outdoor exhibition space linked to the interior through circulation and sightlines. The layout features five block-like volumes symbolizing ‘golden flowers,’ clad in colored glazed tiles that create varied reflections and tactile engagement. A vortex-shaped path connects three ground-floor halls with an underground tunnel. Multimedia installations recreate the mining process using modern techniques. The project bridges past and present, positioning the preserved mine ruins and the new museum as a unified architectural and cultural statement.
Ink contains five pigments, and clay holds five colors. The Chinese have used ink for writing and clay for crafting utensils, practices that contributed to the formation of Chinese culture. The landscape shaped by the shore of Taihu Lake and the extending range of Tianmu Mountain has defined the terrain and mineral context of Dingshu. The cultural lineage of China, the geological formations of Dingshu, and the mineral deposits of Zisha together form the foundational inspiration for the Huanglong Mountain·Zisha Mineral Source Museum.
Dingshu Town, located in the southeast of Yixing City, is widely recognized as the “Capital of Pottery.” Huanglong Mountain has historically been a source of high-quality Zisha clay, a special type of material, and is regarded as the “Source of Zisha.” This project outlines a protection strategy for the historical remains of the No. 4 mine and includes the design of the Zisha Mineral Source Museum.
The No. 4 Zisha mine at Huanglong Mountain was originally established in 1972 and ceased operations in 1997. In 2009, it was designated as a municipal cultural relic protection unit by the Yixing Municipal Government.
The design reinforces, repairs, and preserves the ruins to transform them into an exterior exhibition space, visually and spatially integrated with the interior exhibition hall through circulation and sightlines. Following the principles of “Minimum intervention, Historical restoration, and Activation,” the project serves as a model for architectural heritage protection and renewal. It respects the ruins by using architectural boundaries and entrance orientation to guide visitors to the No. 4 Mine Ruins Site. It activates and regenerates the damaged area by reconnecting the disrupted mountain terrain with the building’s landscape. It also forms a cohesive whole by linking the exterior exhibition space of the No. 4 mine ruins with the interior exhibition route, ensuring a continuous and unified visitor experience.
The design concept emphasizes integration with the site by respecting the existing environment rather than dominating it, guiding visitors to explore and move naturally through the landscape. The spatial arrangement promotes communication and connection, with five distinct building blocks symbolizing five “Golden Flowers.” The glazed tile surfaces reference five-color ink, reinforcing the cultural narrative. A vortex-shaped exhibition path links the three ground-floor halls with the underground mine tunnel, forming a continuous and immersive spatial experience. Multimedia is employed to simulate the original mining process, allowing this historical period to be reinterpreted through contemporary technology.
Glazed tiles are used as the surface material to convey both functional and aesthetic qualities. In pottery, “glazing” refers to the application of a finishing layer that enhances beauty, provides airtightness, prevents penetration, and increases strength. This technique is applied to the facade tiles through a colored glaze treatment, allowing the facade to reflect light and shadow with visual richness. When visitors approach and touch the surface, the texture and material evoke a strong tactile connection with the building.
The significance of the project is rooted in the philosophical insight of Laozi, who stated, “By the existence of things we profit, and by the non-existence of things we are served.” Both pottery and architecture embody this ancient wisdom. In this context, the No. 4 mine ruins and the museum represent the relationship between entity and void, symbolically intertwining the old and the new through spatial and cultural continuity.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Zisha Road, Yixing, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, 214221, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
