Renovation of the Old Site of the CPC Central Secretariat

Historic buildings and blocks are testaments to the history and culture of a city, defining the city’s fabrics and making its spirit and character stand out. The former site of the CPC Central Secretariat has witnessed and recorded many significant events and figures throughout history.

This Shikumen building made of brick and timber underwent years of erosion and was through many historical events. The facade had been decaying, while the most of interior components was broken and unsafe.

Based on extensive historical research and the principle of “restoring the old site as it was with minimal intervention”, the conservation and renovation efforts aimed to faithfully restore the former building and preserve its unique character under the genius loci. The entire building at the old site of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee has been conserved, and the original architectural layout of the protected area have been preserved and integrated with the exhibition hall. In order to accommodate the exhibition function, the partition walls of the other rooms are removed to open up the original cramped living space, allowing for future flexibility in exhibitions. Ultimately, the project’s goal is to conserve and convey the historical and cultural significance of the old site, thereby activating the spirit of place and evoking sentiments of visitors as they experience the architecture and the historic scenes on display.

The design team paid homage to the uniqueness of the conservation and renovation project, adopted cutting-edge innovative technologies to restore the authentic historical features and environment, to juxtapose conservation and renewal by continuing the heritage while innovating at the same time, thus rejuvenating the historical site in the contemporary era.