A new memorial exhibition hall has opened in Qingping Town, Mianzhu City, China, commemorating the extraordinary 14-year construction journey of the Mianmao Road. Designed by Atelier Haode from Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Design, the 1,270 square meter facility honors the heroic efforts of builders who completed one of Sichuan Province's most challenging post-disaster transportation projects.
The Mianmao Road project began in 2009 as part of post-disaster reconstruction efforts following the devastating 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, which severely damaged infrastructure throughout the region. The highway was designed to connect Mianzhu City, located on the edge of the Sichuan Basin, with Mao County in Aba Prefecture, ending the historical isolation between these two areas. Due to treacherous terrain and frequent natural hazards, the project became one of the most technically demanding road construction efforts in the region's history.
After 14 years of arduous construction work, the road finally opened to traffic in 2023, marking a significant milestone in China's post-earthquake recovery efforts. The completion of this vital transportation link not only restored connectivity but also provided essential access for emergency services and economic development in the mountainous region. To commemorate this achievement and serve local cultural and spiritual needs, community leaders and government officials decided to establish a permanent memorial exhibition hall.
The exhibition hall is strategically located in Qingping Town, positioned among mountains and rivers adjacent to the Qingping section of the newly completed highway. This location holds particular significance as Qingping Town was heavily impacted by the Wenchuan Earthquake and still bears traces of multiple geological disasters, including earthquakes and mudslides. The design team recognized that responding to the physical, ecological, historical, and cultural contexts of this sensitive site would be their primary design challenge.
Lead architect Sun Haode and his design team, including Li Haoyu, Hou Pinyi, Wang Yutong, Monica Sunkara, and Xie Yuxiao, chose to repurpose an existing rectangular steel-structured warehouse that had previously been used by the Mianzhu Transportation Bureau. The 1,400 square meter site featured a structurally intact building that was highly enclosed and disconnected from its natural surroundings. Working within budget constraints while taking advantage of favorable climatic conditions, the architects retained the factory's original framework while completely reshaping the spatial organization.
The design approach breaks away from traditional static exhibition methods by employing environmental reenactment as the primary narrative thread throughout the space. The architects created an open, linear spatial organization combined with strategic nodal storytelling points to create immersive experiences that echo the epic nature of the road's construction process. This innovative approach allows visitors to experience something akin to the challenges and triumphs faced by the road builders over nearly a decade and a half.
To transform the enclosed warehouse into an engaging public space, the design team removed the maintenance structures of the exterior facade while retaining the original structural framework and roof system. They strengthened waterproofing treatments and adopted different renovation strategies for different facade orientations based on environmental conditions and solar exposure. This selective preservation approach maintained structural integrity while dramatically opening the building to its mountain and river setting.
Drawing inspiration from the linear spatial characteristics of roads and tunnels, the interior design establishes a central axis that separates the exhibition area from activity spaces. This organizational strategy constructs both a linear narrative progression and creates the sense of a natural barrier, organizing the core conceptual thread of the entire exhibition layout. The resulting spatial sequence includes a welcoming foyer, the main circulation axis, primary exhibition halls, a multi-functional event space, and an upper-level mezzanine.
The centerpiece of the exhibition experience transforms a massive stone-like space into a closed multimedia and graphic exhibition hall that serves as the primary narrative node. Through abstract spatial forms, full-scale physical exhibits, and sophisticated multimedia displays, this immersive environment presents visitors with a visceral understanding of the perilous conditions and extraordinary challenges faced during the 14-year construction process. The exhibition effectively communicates both the technical complexity and human cost of building critical infrastructure in one of China's most geologically active regions.
Ultimately, the Memorial Exhibition Hall stands as a powerful testament to humanity's enduring dialogue with natural forces and the determination required for post-disaster reconstruction. The facility not only honors the remarkable achievements of engineers, construction workers, and planners who completed this vital transportation link but also expresses humble reverence for the natural forces that continue to shape this dramatic landscape. Through thoughtful architectural intervention, the project transforms an industrial building into a space for community reflection, education, and cultural memory.
