Interior Design of Fanshan Alunite Crystallization Ponds by FLIP Studio

Revitalizing Industrial Heritage Through Interior Design

The Fanshan Alunite Crystallization Ponds in Lujiang, Hefei, represent a profound industrial heritage site. Once a thriving alunite mining hub, the site faced decline in the 1990s, ceasing operations in 2001. Decades of abandonment left behind deteriorated factories, crystallization ponds, and a damaged ecological environment. This industrial relic, rich in historical and cultural value, risked fading into obscurity.

The FLIP Studio interior design project adopted a transformative approach: Conservation-Activation-Insertion-Regeneration. Through this strategy, the Fanshan site is no longer merely an industrial relic but a dynamic cultural and ecological landmark.

Conservation: Preserving Industrial Memory

The renovation began with archaeological precision, retaining terraced landforms, circular pit structures, original timber trusses, and industrial traces. These preserved elements provide a three-dimensional base for design interventions, maintaining the site’s authentic industrial narrative while laying the foundation for modern use.

Activation: Immersive Spatial Experiences

To transform the industrial space, FLIP Studio reimagined spatial experiences using “crystals” as a unifying motif. The design features an elevated black boardwalk system that links the site while respecting original landforms. Throughout the space, exhibition displays, custom furniture, and lighting installations crafted from translucent materials—including frosted glass, acrylic tubes, and fiberglass—immerse visitors in a poetic journey of light, minerals, and time.

Insertion: Introducing Contemporary Functions

The project integrates new programs that bring contemporary vitality to the historical site:

• Reception areas and visitor centers
• Alunite-themed exhibitions
• Guided pit relic tours
• Outdoor theater and event spaces
• Historical artifacts displays from the 1950s
• Pit Café and retail spaces

The Pit Café, a circular pit converted into a cozy café, serves as a signature intervention. Visitors descend via the boardwalk into the pit, surrounded by weathered industrial walls, and experience a seamless blend of history and modern life under circular translucent lighting installations.

Regeneration: Cultural and Ecological Revival

FLIP Studio’s interventions go beyond cultural preservation to achieve ecological restoration. Some pits recreate the alunite crystallization process, while others host café seating or indoor planters, fostering micro-ecosystems. Through these strategies, the industrial site evolves into an ecologically resilient and culturally rich environment, balancing heritage, leisure, education, and contemporary use.

A Model of Sustainable Industrial Transformation

Through conservation, activation, and insertion, the Fanshan Alunite Crystallization Ponds project demonstrates how industrial heritage can be reimagined for the 21st century. Today, the site thrives as a cultural landmark, seamlessly integrating restored ecology with modern tourism and leisure, and offering visitors an immersive experience of industrial history, design innovation, and environmental stewardship.

All Photographs are works of Runzi Zhu