A remarkable transformation has taken place in Huangyan District, where a 1,400-year-old stone quarry has been converted into a cutting-edge cultural and art center by renowned architecture firm DnA. The Huangyan Quarry Cultural & Art Center represents a groundbreaking example of adaptive reuse, breathing new life into an industrial heritage site that dates back to 675 AD during China's Tang Dynasty.
The project encompasses approximately 20,000 square meters across three distinct quarry clusters, each serving unique cultural and recreational purposes. Located in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, the site benefits from exceptional connectivity with Huangyan's airport just 26 kilometers away and the high-speed rail station only 5.3 kilometers distant. The region, known as the center of Zhejiang's Golden Coast, proudly carries three prestigious titles: "Yongning, with a History of Over a Thousand Years," "Origin of Chinese Oranges," and "the Mold Capital."
The quarry's extraordinary history began during the Tang Dynasty's Shangyuan era when large-scale stone extraction commenced to support the construction of Yongning County and the prefectural city. Over centuries of continuous quarrying operations, workers carved out a spectacular complex of artificial caves featuring towering slate cliffs reaching heights of one hundred meters, expansive underground chambers, and dozens of interconnected caverns forming an impressive subterranean network.
What makes this site truly unique are the natural geological features that emerged over time. Mineral deposits seeping from the rocks and underground water systems within the hollowed-out mountains have created what experts describe as the world's only natural rock painting scenery. These formations include the famous "Dongting Waterfall View" and striking emerald-green pools that provide a dramatic contrast to the yellow mineral deposits that give Huangyan its name, which literally translates to "Yellow Rock."
The site's journey as a tourist destination began in 1989, but initial efforts faced significant challenges including insufficient investment, poor design implementation, limited accessible cave space, and inadequate promotional strategies. These obstacles led to declining visitor numbers and operational difficulties, ultimately forcing closure in 2015. However, this setback created an opportunity for innovative architectural intervention.
DnA's design philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention while maximizing the site's unique geological and historical characteristics. The architectural approach focuses on creating an "urban living room" that allows visitors to engage meaningfully with local Huangyan culture and the dramatic natural environment. Rather than imposing modern structures that would compete with the quarry's inherent beauty, the design team introduced carefully planned circulation paths, strategic stopping points with enlarged platforms, and functional spaces that leverage the quarry's existing geometry.
The circulation system features innovative woven timber arch bridges that serve dual purposes as both cultural symbols reflecting local landscape aesthetics and practical structural solutions. These bridges effectively address the narrow quarry entrances and constrained construction conditions by allowing components to be prefabricated in smaller units and assembled on-site. The structural system scales from bridge forms to large-span floor slabs in new additions, simultaneously serving as roofing for lower-level spaces.
Lighting design plays a crucial role in highlighting the site's most spectacular features. The quarry interior contains naturally uneven mineral compositions that, after centuries of manual extraction, have formed massive yellow-toned natural rock paintings. Strategic illumination transforms these mineral deposits into colossal luminous elements within the space while guiding circulation paths and emphasizing the local identity that gives Huangyan its name.
Water features add another layer of visual drama to the underground chambers. Groundwater accumulation has created stunning turquoise-blue pools in Quarries No. 1 and No. 2, providing striking chromatic contrast with the yellow rock paintings. The design intentionally links these pools within Quarry No. 1, incorporating three docking piers at varying elevations to establish a water passage that enables boat access and offers multiple perspectives for experiencing the quarry.
Each quarry cluster serves distinct programmatic functions. Quarry No. 1, positioned closest to the main entrance, functions as the "Urban Living Room" with the memory of the old city as its core theme. This space integrates elements including trees, water features, docks, boats, murals, traditional landscape culture, and urban public functions. Facilities include a coffee lounge, workshops, reading areas, lecture halls, waterscape zones, and tunnel experience areas.
Quarry No. 2 focuses on entertainment and leisure activities, taking advantage of the circular stone walls formed by historical mining operations that provide natural acoustic properties. This geological feature inspired the creation of three theaters and stage spaces with potential for future additions including leisure areas, rock climbing facilities, and diving experience zones. The natural amphitheater setting creates an unparalleled venue for cultural performances.
Quarry No. 3, designed as a "Secret Garden," consists of a series of narrow tunnels connecting secluded spaces. The renovation utilized wood weaving techniques to seal the opening at the top of the quarry, meeting functional requirements while preserving the original quarry appearance. This intimate space will house restaurant facilities, café services, and reception areas. Additionally, the original tunnels connecting all three quarries have been transformed into exhibition galleries, achieving rational utilization of interior areas with minimal intervention.
The project represents DnA's continued commitment to addressing the socioeconomic, ecological, and cultural dimensions of post-industrial landscapes. Unlike previous stone quarry transformations in remote rural areas, the Huangyan Quarry's location in an urbanized environment adjacent to the city proper allows its programming to cater to younger demographics while evolving into a vibrant public node integrated into the city's daily rhythms.
Completed in 2024 under the leadership of principal architect Xu Tiantian, the project involved collaboration with specialists including lighting designers from Zhang Xin Studio at Tsinghua University's School of Architecture, acoustic design experts from Tsinghua University's Architectural Acoustics Laboratory, and reinforcement design specialists from The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University. The transformation demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can honor historical heritage while creating dynamic spaces for contemporary cultural expression and community engagement.
