Langtou Village, located on the outskirts of Guangzhou, a major city in southern China, is a 700-year-old historic village. To adapt to the region’s hot and humid climate, the village developed a compact spatial pattern and thick, enclosed exterior walls. Recognized as one of China’s Historic and Cultural Villages, Langtou exemplifies the traditional Confucian agrarian civilization of southern China.
The project is located on the eastern side of the historic village and is a rural revitalization initiative funded by the Vipshop Charity Foundation. Covering about 3,300 square meters, it includes 21 traditional vernacular houses—mostly built during the Qing Dynasty over 200 years ago. Though not officially listed as heritage buildings, they form an essential part of the village’s historic fabric. All residents have relocated to new houses outside the old settlement, leaving these buildings abandoned, many with collapsed roofs and cracked walls due to long neglect.
After detailed surveys and studies, the design team and the foundation decided to transform the dwellings into a village inn to serve growing tourism needs. Guided by the principles of sustainability and cultural preservation, the architects restored traditional layouts, repaired façades, and revitalized the overall building texture of the cluster. Traditional craftsmen were invited to restore original decorative details, carefully preserve the historical traces on grey-brick walls, and even keep wild trees growing from ruins intact—embodying a living respect for history.
Inside, modern and traditional elements engage in a dialogue. The elegant spatial language of modern architecture is layered upon historical materials, creating a clear synchronic juxtaposition rather than imitation. The result is a balanced integration of old and new, expressing sustainable renewal within the historical context.
Through above re-intervention, 21 long-abandoned village houses are reborn with new lives.

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