‘soft square’ revitalizes changshou village, shenzhen

 

ZXD Architects has completed the Soft Square in the rural Changshou Village, Shenzhen, bridging the concept of a public space with contemporary art installation. A large woven rope net structure is stretched over a pond in front of the historic Hakka Houses, providing a distinct space for tourists and villagers to relax and commune with nature.

 

The space was previously leased as a private fish pond, its natural shoreline replaced by stone and concrete, and stainless steel railings installed along its periphery to protect pedestrians and vehicles’ safety. This fundamentally altered the pond’s appearance and role in the village, clashing with the rural settings and disrupting the natural landscape, causing a sense of alienation. The architects’ intervention forms part of a broader rural revitalization scheme, creating a sense of spatial reconnection and inviting cultural engagement alongside the new theatre commune.

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
all images by Zhang Chao unless stated otherwise

 

 

ZXD Architects’ intervention fosters connectivity

 

The installation seamlessly integrates with the surrounding roads, creating an expansive square that becomes a new public space in Changshou Village. The rope net, made of ultra-low-ductility material with a tensile strength of up to 90KN, can support various activities — offering a serene spot for people to walk across, leisurely gaze at the vast sky, overlook the pond, and watch the swimming fish and blooming lotus flowers below. Although the net is soft and safe, its unique mesh structure demands that people tread cautiously to avoid triggering a sway, akin to a butterfly effect. Each individual’s steps can be felt by themselves and others, resulting in fun interactions and transforming passive perception into active participation. As they adjust to the rope net, they are encouraged to release themselves and explore freely.

 

To optimize the rope net’s structure and reduce costs, the team at ZXD Architects installed seven circular concrete supports within the pond, shortening the net’s span. Additional steel supports around these structures balance the horizontal tension exerted by the net on the pond’s edges, while a secondary slender net beneath the main one prevents items from falling into the water. Despite the intervention, it retains its function as a fish pond and its essential role in the village’s water system.

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
ZXD Architects has completed the Soft Square in the rural Changshou Village

 

 

a cultural engagement scheme

 

China’s rural revitalization initiative to support rural development involves developing tourism to attract capital and industries, foster cultural engagement, promote population retention, and facilitate the settlement of new residents. Integrating cultural projects into rural settings is a new attempt in this regard. In Changshou Village, the esteemed Chinese performing art studio, Longma Studio, has established a theater commune intended to serve as a hub for regular art performances, encompassing the entire process from creation and rehearsal to staging dramas. To accommodate the increasing number of audiences and tourists, principal designer Zhu Xiaodi of ZXD Architects was commissioned to steer the village’s overall planning and the design of key areas.

 

The performances are expected to significantly impact Changshou Village, Pingshan District, and even broader Shenzhen, expecting an influx of tourists, posing challenges to the already cramped public spaces. How to accommodate these visitors while mitigating potential conflicts between local villagers and tourists has become an urgent concern.

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
bridging the concept a public space with contemporary art installation

 

 

The performance venue is positioned in Jiang’s Hakka Houses, a traditional architectural complex in Changshou Village. Built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, this 8,000-square-meter compound features a typical Cantonese residential layout, nestled against a mountain and embracing a pond. While parts of the houses remain intact, others have been demolished.

 

Further, the village’s spatial fabric is shaped by agricultural roots, showing independent house systems of each household, narrow roads, and a lack of open public spaces. Over the decades, the originally cramped village entrance, streets, lanes, and pond have lost their charm of gathering people due to the impact of the market economy. The pond in front of the Hakka Houses was leased as a private fish pond, undergoing significant changes to its character that created disconnect with the rural settings, causing a sense of alienation in the rural public space.

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
a large woven rope net structure stretches over a pond in front of the historic Hakka Houses

 

 

In the past, ponds played a vital role in traditional villages in the hilly regions of Southern China, serving as sources of drinking water, washing, and fire prevention. Additionally, they provided landscape and Feng Shui benefits, and were essential public spaces and emotional bonds within the village. However, due to urbanized lifestyles, they have become isolated ‘fish ponds’, with rigid boundaries cutting off visual and physical access to water, limiting public availability, and interaction. Merely restoring the pond’s original shoreline is neither feasible nor practically meaningful; removing the railings would compromise the safety of villagers and tourists. In August 2023, architect Zhu Xiaodi and his team visited the site and proposed a space improvement plan based on their investigation and analysis of the pond.

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
a distinct space for tourists and villagers to relax and commune with nature

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
a serene spot for people to walk across, leisurely gaze at the vast sky, and overlook the pond

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
made of ultra-low-ductility material with a tensile strength of up to 90KN

soft square
seven circular concrete supports are set within the pond, shortening the net’s span

zxd architects stretches large woven net across pond in rural china, inviting rest and play
each individual’s steps can be felt by themselves and others, resulting in fun interactions

constructing rural public spaces with the concept of contemporary art soft square in changshou village pingshan shenzhen 9
positioned in front of Jiang’s Hakka Houses, a traditional architectural complex in Changshou Village

 

 

1/5
the pond before construction | image courtesy of Zhu Xiaodi
the pond before construction | image courtesy of Zhu Xiaodi
image courtesy of ZXD Architects
image courtesy of ZXD Architects
image courtesy of ZXD Architects
image courtesy of ZXD Architects
night view rendering | image courtesy of ZXD Architects
night view rendering | image courtesy of ZXD Architects
comparison of different rope net structure schemes | image courtesy of ZXD Architects
comparison of different rope net structure schemes | image courtesy of ZXD Architects

project info:

 

name: Soft Square

architect: ZXD Architects | @zxdarchitects

chief designer: Zhu Xiaodi

design team: Ma Tiangang, Xiao Ruyi

structure design: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design Co., Ltd. — Bai Guangbo, Duan Shichang, Gao Zhijun, Wang Yi, Cui Jianhua, Zhu Zhongyi

lighting design: Purilighting (PURI) — Hu Fang, Ma Zanbao

client: Bureau of Public Works of Pingshan District, Shenzhen

location: Changshou Village, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, China

land area: 1,463 square meters

project area: 1,463 square meters

photography: Zhang Chao

 

 

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom