KUCHA DIGITAL INNOVATION & MEMORY PARK

Guided by the philosophy of "coexistence between old and new," the designer reimagines the space within the ruins of the Qing-dynasty circular city wall, repurposing the original flour mill structure. Through innovative spatial reorganization, the project blends the ancient wall remnants and industrial heritage with modern commerce and public services, creating a dynamic dialogue between history and contemporary life. This preserves the legacy of historical architecture, bridging Kuqa's past, present, and future in Xinjiang.

Along the periphery of the Qing-dynasty city wall ruins, a jogging track is designed to bring the historical site closer to the public. The factory renovation preserves the original architectural structure while incorporating local architectural materials such as yellow clay bricks to maintain its authentic industrial character. The project extensively utilizes prefabricated materials, including an assembled aluminum-magnesium-manganese roof system, ensuring a completely weld-free construction to safeguard the historical structure. Pre-fabricated modular LOW-E glass panels are also installed, leveraging their superior thermal insulation and light transmission to enhance energy efficiency and create a sustainable built environment. Within the complex, locally crafted installations—like eco-canopies with perforated patterns—harness Xinjiang's abundant sunlight to cast dynamic shadow narratives, mirroring the play of light in the adjacent intangible heritage theater and digital exhibition hall. This approach not only reduces carbon emissions but also embodies green design principles.

The once-abandoned factory is transformed into a Digital Exhibition Center for China's Historic and Cultural Cities, preserving its raw industrial texture while infusing contemporary design language. The original silos are repurposed as dynamic light-display canvases, where industrial symbolism converses with modern aesthetics—making forgotten labor visibly poetic. Cutting-edge VR installations and immersive lighting recreate historical landscapes, allowing visitors to experience Kuqa's cultural richness firsthand. The complex also integrates diverse amenities: a restaurant, the Kucha Bookhouse, artisan workshops, and a visitor center, evolving into a multi-functional hub that blends heritage conservation & interpretation, industrial space revitalization, Kucha cultural exhibitions and community-oriented public services.