Jack Oliver Petch.

Preservation : Kunming.

Situated on the site of an old Confucian Temple, Preservation: Kunming was based on Field study experience, Interviews with local residents and further research into Confucian philosophy and ideas.

The primary motivation for the brief was to create a building that acts as a framework for existing artefacts and activities to be cast inside: a concrete time capsule. Outlying different areas of the site I wanted to preserve, this became the overarching theme of the project. Preserving the existing garden footprint, exposes the archaeology digs, and creating series of planned spaces for users to interact with the past; a combination of museum, auditorium, music school and gardens. Visitors and existing residents would co-inhabit the space.

Restoring the main approach into the space by passing through the existing gardens into a new courtyard, the lower ground museum acts as a look at the development of Kunming’s history. This approach derived from playing with the language of vertical movement and time. In addition, I looked into the Confucian proverb of showing over telling and wanted all artefacts and information organised for the users to see. I felt it important for the imperfect and broken are saved, just like the existing temple. The auditorium space would perform traditional music in a contemporary style and setting. As this area looks at the present, I included another large display wall of discarded and obsolete items, looking at the throwaway nature of China’s current approach.

In culmination, this project addressed the question if tangible artefacts, buildings and culture were removed from public knowledge without sentimental attachment, the real understanding of the past would become lost.