The Taoxichuan area in Jingdezhen is a region crafted from gentle porcelain, fine craftsmanship, and the rich hues of historical bricks. The once bustling scenes of kiln firing have quieted down through the pages of history. Yet, this place holds potential for cultural and artistic development. Within the historical city conservation and development plans, Taoxichuan embraces both preservation and transformation, opening up to myriad new possibilities. The Jingyang Camphor Court, a hotel, has been established amidst this wave of creativity. The architecture harmoniously integrates the new and the old of Taoxichuan, narrating the future prospects of the area through a design that balances openness and enclosure.

The hotel is situated on an abandoned concrete material yard next to a ceramics factory, a site laden with over a decade of the owner's work memories. The owner, Liu Zili, was formerly the director of several state-owned porcelain factories in Jingdezhen. Even though the factories are now defunct, he remains deeply invested in the future of this land. In collaboration with Professor Zhang Jieat at School of Architecture 's team from Tsinghua University, he has facilitated the creation of the Taoxichuan Cultural and Creative District. For the Jingyang Camphor Court, which Liu deeply anticipates, he envisions more than just a restful hotel space. He sees parts of it serving as a living room for cultural exchanges within the district, fostering a building space that combines openness with connectivity, transforming it into an interactive community hub.

When architect Dong Gong first visited this site, he quickly reached an agreement with the owner to preserve not only three factory buildings and a warehouse but also to maintain the camphor and plane trees that had witnessed the site's pottery-making history, without cutting down a single tree. The new buildings within the Jingyang Camphor Court are constructed using custom-made bricks that match the size of those traditionally used in Jingdezhen's kilns. Carefully selected warm brown tones that mimic the earth's hues create a gentle ambiance, allowing the hotel to exist quietly and unobtrusively amid a backdrop of dominant red brick historical structures. Today, the layered brick walls under the sunlight display a three-dimensional play of light and shadow, echoing the history as if transcending time, while integrating the local craftsmanship spirit within modern design considerations.

The design of Jingyang Camphor Court centers around more than thirty camphor trees, with a wooden cloister winding through this grove, offering a path that brings visitors closer to nature. A key aspect of the design process, led by Vector Architects, was the meticulous adjustment of the trees' relationship with their surroundings without moving any of them. This involved modifying the wooden railings through careful cutting and notching, akin to performing surgery, to preserve the trees. Today, the cloister discreetly nestled among the trees not only serves as a contemplative space before entering the main hall but also as the hub connecting various functional areas. As people move through this space, they experience a transition from the scale of industrial buildings to that of everyday streets, thereby injecting a softer, more sensory experience into Taoxichuan.

The guest room area, extending around the central courtyard, is located in the north amidst a cluster of camphor trees. The newly built linear buildings face the lush greenery, and the balconies on each floor offer varied views of the tree canopies and distant mountains, ensuring privacy due to the varying heights of the trees. The restaurant and lobby to the south have been renovated from an old warehouse. After refurbishment, the original wooden trusses have been extended with steel trusses to continue the narrative of the space's memory. In line with the owner's expectations, the Jingyang Camphor Court not only revives the humanistic essence of the former pottery industry but also serves as a tranquil haven that blends outdoor living with the trees, offering a serene space for spiritual respite. 

Design Studio | Vector Architects

Photography | Chen Hao、Zheng Yuning、Pianfang Studio