H1 – Transforming a Heritage Courtyard into a Modern Cultural Landmark

Tai-Silk Courtyard by Deep Origin Lab and CO-MILEU is a sophisticated adaptive reuse project located in Taizhou, China. Set within the historic Zhou Residence along Jiazhi Street District, the renovation reimagines a traditional Jiangnan courtyard compound into a vibrant center for Taizhou embroidery, fashion exhibitions, and cultural events. Blending heritage preservation with contemporary spatial strategy, the 1,054 m² project redefines how historic dwellings can evolve into public cultural assets.

H2 – Preserving Jiangnan Architectural Heritage

The Zhou Residence exemplifies classic Wu-region courtyard architecture with its three-bay main hall, flanking wing rooms, and a modest single-story gatehouse surrounding a central stone-paved courtyard. Its timber beams, hip-and-gable roofs, and carved stone thresholds reflect centuries of traditional craftsmanship. Originally serving as a private residence with upstairs storage and ceremonial spaces, the complex provided a robust framework for public transformation.

The design team approached the renovation with a respect-first methodology—retaining the original timber structure, preserving carved stone details, and stabilizing aged masonry. These elements form the cultural backbone of the project, allowing new architectural layers to emerge with clarity and authenticity.

H2 – An Adaptive Reuse Strategy for Public Engagement

To transform the once-enclosed residence into a dynamic cultural venue, the architects introduced a new public circulation axis: waterfront → courtyard → atrium → staircase → gallery.

This spatial reorganization converts the heritage dwelling into a multifunctional venue for fashion showcases, textile heritage exhibitions, handcrafted embroidery, and community events. The updated layout encourages a fluid visitor experience, guiding guests through a narrative that bridges past and present.

The project now serves as Jiazhi Street District’s cultural anchor, reinforcing Taizhou’s identity as a historic center of embroidery craftsmanship.

H2 – Facade Enhancements Rooted in Authenticity

H3 – South Facade: Minimal Intervention on the Waterfront

The southern elevation, facing the historic waterway, was preserved with minimal intervention. The team refurbished the original wooden gate and introduced elegant brass signage, allowing the carved stone gateframe and aged brick walls to express their raw character. When the gate opens, it frames a dramatic view of the illuminated courtyard feature wall.

H3 – East Facade: Strengthened Street Presence

Facing the main street, select timber doors were replaced with glass entrances to improve public accessibility without undermining the building’s historic essence.

H3 – West Facade: Commercial Display Windows

New display windows were inserted to reveal embroidered garments, seamlessly blending cultural heritage with contemporary retail functions.

H2 – Spatial Reconfiguration: Expanding Light, Circulation, and Program

The renovation reinterprets the courtyard typology with strategic interventions:

H3 – Gatehouse as Tearoom

The gatehouse transforms into an intimate tearoom, creating a soft transition between the public street and the inner courtyard.

H3 – Revitalized Courtyard

Original wooden doors were removed to expose the stone walls, while glass curtain walls now enclose the corridors, expanding exhibition areas and preserving visibility across the courtyard.

The stone-paved ground was unified with fine-grained beige terrazzo, integrating salvaged stones to maintain historical continuity.

H3 – Central Atrium Transformation

The three-bay central hall is opened into a double-height atrium, honoring traditional spatial hierarchy. A sculptural pleated GRP wall, inspired by draped silk, defines the space with a soft translucency.

Suspended, amorphous lighting fixtures evoke textile craftsmanship, while a slender main staircase leads visitors to the elevated gallery.

H2 – Material Palette: Harmonizing Old and New

The material strategy balances warm-white terrazzo, rich timber textures, and custom wired-glass installations. Layered transparency allows glimpses of historic brick and stone behind contemporary display surfaces, giving the interiors a refined, museum-like quality.

Functional details—like adjustable exhibition backdrops, textile-inspired textures, and custom clothing racks—enhance both brand visibility and curatorial flexibility.

H2 – Second-Floor Gallery: A Journey Through Taizhou Embroidery

The gallery is split into east and west wings, interconnected via a grille-filtered atrium. This creates a spatial “historical passage” dedicated to Master Lin Xia’s lifelong work in Taizhou embroidery.

Precision lighting turns shadows into part of the exhibition narrative, while carefully framed views to the courtyard reconnect visitors to the architecture’s vernacular origins.

Structural limitations of the historic building were addressed with sloped transitions, acoustic underlayers, and reinforced flooring, ensuring comfort and safety without disrupting heritage fabric.

H2 – A Holistic Design Approach Inspired by Craft

Taizhou’s embroidery techniques—pulling, carving, twisting, inlaying, perforating, wrapping—inspired the design strategy at every scale.

The team adopted a highly craft-driven, inward-focused process, tailoring custom elements such as:

• linen-textured translucent wall panels
• free-form display racks
• custom lighting fixtures
• bespoke joinery
• repurposed demolition materials

This improvisational yet rigorous approach ensured a cohesive identity rooted in both tradition and innovation.

H2 – Conclusion: A Delicate Balance of Heritage and Contemporary Culture

Tai-Silk Courtyard embodies four core principles: new–old collage, subtle integration, craft-as-construction, and organic morphology.

By preserving historical traces while introducing contemporary design, the project achieves a harmonious balance between cultural storytelling and modern functionality. It stands as a model for the future of heritage revitalization, adaptive reuse, and craft-centered architectural practice.

All photographs are works of Hao Chen