Before the advent of tourism, Wuzhen was a country town with a light industry with its silk factory bordering the canal. Chen Xianghong, the developer of Wuzhen, fought the urban planning laws that mandated the removal of the buildings, and secured the preservation of the factory.
Built before the modernisation of China, it used construction techniques that saved on materials; elaborate concrete trusses carrying a traditional wooden roof frame. This creates a unique character for each hall, which was the basis of OLI Architecture’s design. The existing structure was cleared of all additions and unnecessary equipment, leaving only the luxurious volumes of the old factory as an ideal setting for displays of art.
The old factory also offered numerous natural lighting systems, from skylights to windows. The designer’s goal was to use these existing features to create an open and interesting relationship with the outside. Thus, the original human qualities of the workspace were recovered and preserved with their transformation into a museum.