Metabolic Architecture: A Practiceof Rural Symbiosis

The architects advocate integrating clear value concepts into holistic design thinking to deepen insights into the natural and cultural environments of a project. Dongxing Xijian's ‘No. 69 Zhongshan Village’ project represents a significant exploration of its ‘Metabolic Architecture’ concept in rural development. Deeply integrating local resources, the architects collaborated with local bamboo weavers, blacksmiths, and persimmon-dyed fabric artisans. Utilizing materials like moso bamboo and persimmon-dyed cloth, it deliberately preserves the textures and traces of change over time from the production process, imparting a sense of the unfinished to the space that aligns with the rhythms of rural growth. The project represents not only the revitalization of an abandoned structure but also a reflection on rural development models. Flexible design can achieve sustainable coexistence between business, culture, and ordinary daily life, while respecting tradition and locality.