原镇太阳乡位于安徽省霍山县大别山风景区的中心地带。为了支持旅游业，当地政府委托我们的团队在这里设计一个广场和一个停车场。当田野工程几乎完成时，只有一座小庙宇还没有被完全拆除。这座为财神而设的小庙宇在周围的农村地区相当普遍，没有引起任何注意，所以幸运的是，它没有被移除。

The origin Sun Township is located in the heart of the scenic area of Dabie mountain in Huoshan county, Anhui Province. To support the travel industry, the local government had commissioned our team to design a square and a parking lot here. When the field engineering was almost finished, only a small temple had not been tear down completely yet. Such a small temple for the God of Wealth is quite common in surrounding rural area, it did not catch any attention therefore luckily it was not removed.

The origin Sun Township is located in the heart of the scenic area of Dabie mountain in Huoshan county, Anhui Province. To support the travel industry, the local government had commissioned our team to design a square and a parking lot here. When the field engineering was almost finished, only a small temple had not been tear down completely yet. Such a small temple for the God of Wealth is quite common in surrounding rural area, it did not catch any attention therefore luckily it was not removed.

 Photo of completion3. Image © Qianxi Zhang

完成照片3。形象(钱溪张)

然而，随着现场调查的深入，我们发现这座寺庙相当特别。它有近两百年的历史，在历史上多次被摧毁和重建.这座寺庙虽然很小，但几百年来一直是当地村民的精神中心。然后，我们说服客户在附近重建这座寺庙，继续当地的传统信仰，并为游客提供一个有趣的互动设施。

However, as the site investigation went deep, we found this temple quite special. It was nearly two hundred years-old, destroyed and rebuilt many times through history. Tiny as it was, the temple was a spiritual center of local villagers for centuries. We then convinced the client to rebuild this temple nearby, to continue local, traditional beliefs as well as to provide visitors an interesting interactive facility.

However, as the site investigation went deep, we found this temple quite special. It was nearly two hundred years-old, destroyed and rebuilt many times through history. Tiny as it was, the temple was a spiritual center of local villagers for centuries. We then convinced the client to rebuild this temple nearby, to continue local, traditional beliefs as well as to provide visitors an interesting interactive facility.

通过这种方式，这座庙宇成为了一个自我提议的设计任务，超出了最初的委托简介。我们希望通过这个小设施的设计，为村民提供精神空间，为农村宗教活动提供一个有尊严的场所。

By this way, this temple became a self-proposed design task beyond the initial commission brief. We hope that through the design of this tiny facility, we can provide spiritual space for the villagers, and a dignified place for rural religious activities.

By this way, this temple became a self-proposed design task beyond the initial commission brief. We hope that through the design of this tiny facility, we can provide spiritual space for the villagers, and a dignified place for rural religious activities.

 Photo of completion4. Image © Qianxi Zhang

完成照片4。形象(钱溪张)

提议新的地点已安排在一个峡谷中，它离原址十米远，三个方向都有山作后盾。新寺庙不仅要成为民间信仰的圣地，还要为游客和非信仰者服务。第一个要解决的问题是如何加强宣传和互动。这些当地的乡村庙宇过去被群山包围，最后的空间非常狭窄。

Proposal The new site had been arranged in a ravine which is ten meters away from the original site, backed with mountains from three directions. The new temple should not only act as a sacred place of folk beliefs, but also serve the tourists and non-believers. The first problem to be solved is how to increase its publicity and interactivity. These local village temples used to be enclosed by mountains, ended up having very narrow space.

Proposal The new site had been arranged in a ravine which is ten meters away from the original site, backed with mountains from three directions. The new temple should not only act as a sacred place of folk beliefs, but also serve the tourists and non-believers. The first problem to be solved is how to increase its publicity and interactivity. These local village temples used to be enclosed by mountains, ended up having very narrow space.

 Photo of completion2. Image © Qianxi Zhang

完成照片2。形象(钱溪张)

考虑到以上情况，我们的设计团队试图通过引入“亭”的形式来打开外部空间，从而改变以前的乡村寺庙的内收空间形式。期待神殿必要的背景墙，我们释放并打开了周围的空间，屋顶舒舒服服地伸展开来，创造了一个舒适的沉思空间，向村民展现了一个开放的形象。

Considering the above, our design team tried to change the adducent spatial form of the former village temple, by introducing the form of a "pavilion" to open up the external space. Expect the necessary background wall for the shrine, we released and opened the space all the way around, with the roof stretching out soothingly, to create a comfortable space of contemplation, showing an open image toward the villagers.

Considering the above, our design team tried to change the adducent spatial form of the former village temple, by introducing the form of a "pavilion" to open up the external space. Expect the necessary background wall for the shrine, we released and opened the space all the way around, with the roof stretching out soothingly, to create a comfortable space of contemplation, showing an open image toward the villagers.

农村建设往往面临技术和材料的限制。虽然传统材料似乎满足一定的美学和价值观，但高成本和熟练工人的短缺是一个不太理想的选择。因此，我们选择了最可控的混凝土来建造新寺庙的整体框架，同时邀请当地的竹工匠编织手工竹编垫作为建筑模具的衬里，使混凝土具有竹垫的质感。这样，我们就增加了现代冷料、混凝土、传统工艺的温度。

Rural construction often faced the limitation of technology and materials. Although traditional material seems to meet certain aesthetics and values, the high cost and shortage of skilled workers made a less optimal choice. Therefore, we chose the most controllable concrete to construct the overall frame of the new temple, while inviting local bamboo craftsman to knit handmade bamboo woven mats as the lining of the construction molds, which gave the concrete a texture of bamboo mats. In this way we add to the cold modern material, concrete, the temperature of traditional craftmanship.

Rural construction often faced the limitation of technology and materials. Although traditional material seems to meet certain aesthetics and values, the high cost and shortage of skilled workers made a less optimal choice. Therefore, we chose the most controllable concrete to construct the overall frame of the new temple, while inviting local bamboo craftsman to knit handmade bamboo woven mats as the lining of the construction molds, which gave the concrete a texture of bamboo mats. In this way we add to the cold modern material, concrete, the temperature of traditional craftmanship.

 Concrete with bamboo mat texture. Image © Qianxi Zhang

有竹垫质地的混凝土。形象(钱溪张)

对于重建的寺庙的墙壁，我们使用红砖，它过去是填充块，而不是作为最后的外观展示。我们改变了这种普通材料的使用方式，简单地改变了它们的方向，直接用空心砖来建造砖墙。砖洞形成了一种不变形的纹理，使景物的部分隐藏和部分可见，模糊了空间的边界。屋顶的方形开口增加了寺庙的宗教气氛。从顶部落下的光线在白天缓慢移动，在特定时刻照亮雕像。

For the walls of the rebuilt temple we applied red brick, which used to be filling blocks rather than a presentation as the final exteriors. We transformed the usage of this common material by simply changing their direction, directly used hollow bricks to structure the masonry wall. The brick holes formed an unalloyed texture, making the scenery behind partly hidden and partly visible, blurring the boundary of the space. The square-shape opening of the roof adds to the religious atmosphere of the temple. The light ray dropping from the top moves slowly through daytime and illumine the statue at specific moment.

For the walls of the rebuilt temple we applied red brick, which used to be filling blocks rather than a presentation as the final exteriors. We transformed the usage of this common material by simply changing their direction, directly used hollow bricks to structure the masonry wall. The brick holes formed an unalloyed texture, making the scenery behind partly hidden and partly visible, blurring the boundary of the space. The square-shape opening of the roof adds to the religious atmosphere of the temple. The light ray dropping from the top moves slowly through daytime and illumine the statue at specific moment.

 Ringing bell. Image © Qianxi Zhang

铃声响了。形象(钱溪张)

在华南地区，水是财富的象征许多天然建筑物强烈强调雨在建筑中的作用因此，在处理屋顶排水问题时，我们特别考虑了这种民俗，对排水系统进行了特殊的处理。也受到日本传统建筑中的“雨链”的启发，设计使雨水排放成为一个生动而有趣的景观，也是一个巧妙的"财富之神”隐喻

 In south China region, water is a symbol of wealth. Many native buildings strongly emphasizes the role of rain in architecture. Thus in dealing with the roof drainage we especially considered this folk custom, did special treatment for the drainage system.Also inspired by the “rain chains”in Japanese traditional architecture, the design made rainwater discharge become a lively and interesting landscape, and a clever metaphor of "the God of Wealth”.

 In south China region, water is a symbol of wealth. Many native buildings strongly emphasizes the role of rain in architecture. Thus in dealing with the roof drainage we especially considered this folk custom, did special treatment for the drainage system.Also inspired by the “rain chains”in Japanese traditional architecture, the design made rainwater discharge become a lively and interesting landscape, and a clever metaphor of "the God of Wealth”.

 The rain chains1. Image © Qianxi Zhang

雨链。形象(钱溪张)

当地居民在寺庙祈祷时，不仅要烧香，还要放鞭炮、松枝、纸币等。政府关注山林火灾和环境污染的风险，提出如果我们能够通过设计来指导村民的行为。

Custom When praying at the temple, local residents not only burn incense, but also set off firecrackers, pine branches and paper money, etc. The government concerned the risk of mountain forest fire and environmental pollution, raised that if we could guide the behavior of villagers through design.

Custom When praying at the temple, local residents not only burn incense, but also set off firecrackers, pine branches and paper money, etc. The government concerned the risk of mountain forest fire and environmental pollution, raised that if we could guide the behavior of villagers through design.

 The blessing wall. Image © Qianxi Zhang

祝福墙。形象(钱溪张)

寺庙的空心砖墙成了一种新型的祈福设施，人们可以在那里卷起写着祝福字的红色纸，然后把它们放进墙上的空心洞里。随着时间的推移，砖墙洞慢慢地被红色的纸填满，把建筑与使用者连接起来，形成了一个成长的过程。这样，建筑本身和信仰活动紧密地结合在一起。

The hollow brick wall of the temple became a new type of blessing facility, where people can roll up the red paper written with blessing words then put them into the hollow holes in the wall. With the passage of time, the brick wall holes slowly become filled up with red paper, connecting the construction with its users, and creating a process of growth. In this way, the building itself and the belief activities closely unifies together.

The hollow brick wall of the temple became a new type of blessing facility, where people can roll up the red paper written with blessing words then put them into the hollow holes in the wall. With the passage of time, the brick wall holes slowly become filled up with red paper, connecting the construction with its users, and creating a process of growth. In this way, the building itself and the belief activities closely unifies together.

铃声是中国宗教事务参与者的一项非常受欢迎的活动。在现场下面，我们设计了一个大钟。这样，人们就可以在从寺庙下来后为祝福而欢呼雀跃。铃声和祝福墙成为财富之神圣殿的新热点，在当地居民和游客中都很受欢迎。

Bell ringing is a very popular activity among the participants of religious affairs in China. Below the site, we designed a big bell. Thus people can ring for blessing after coming down from the temple. The ringing bell and the blessing wall become new hot spot of the temple for the God of Wealth, popular among both local residents and visitors.

Bell ringing is a very popular activity among the participants of religious affairs in China. Below the site, we designed a big bell. Thus people can ring for blessing after coming down from the temple. The ringing bell and the blessing wall become new hot spot of the temple for the God of Wealth, popular among both local residents and visitors.

该意外项目完成后的影响，该项目最初不是由客户委托，也取得了意想不到的效果。新的财富寺保留了村民的信仰中心，不仅继续成为村民为财富和运气祈祷的场所，而且成为游客和村民相互交流的互动场所，实现了独特的公共属性。新庙的出现和祝福的新方式也刷新了居民了解这些设施，成为人们关注和讨论的焦点，为民间信仰注入了新的活力。

Impact After the completion of this accidental project, which was not originally commissioned by the client, it also achieved unexpected effects. The new temple of wealth retained and continued the belief center of villagers, which not only continue to be a place for villagers to pray for wealth and luck, but also became an interaction place for visitors and villagers to communicate with each other, achieving unique public attributes. The appearance of the new temple and the new way of blessing also refreshed the residents' understanding of these facilities, becoming a focus of attention and discussion by visitors, infusing new vitality to folk beliefs.

Impact After the completion of this accidental project, which was not originally commissioned by the client, it also achieved unexpected effects. The new temple of wealth retained and continued the belief center of villagers, which not only continue to be a place for villagers to pray for wealth and luck, but also became an interaction place for visitors and villagers to communicate with each other, achieving unique public attributes. The appearance of the new temple and the new way of blessing also refreshed the residents' understanding of these facilities, becoming a focus of attention and discussion by visitors, infusing new vitality to folk beliefs.