The Dahecun Site Museum, a key component of the Dahecun National Archaeological Park, is China's first museum to offer a panoramic presentation of the Yangshao Culture and the site's heritage. With a building area of approximately 20,000 square meters, it is also the nation's largest fully sunken-site museum.
The design initially faced the following challenges: fragile, low-lying prehistoric remains requiring avoidance of large surface structures; a former landfill site needing complete soil replacement, with standard methods involving enormous earthwork costs and delays; and ecological degradation with native species loss and low stormwater capacity.
Cost, Schedule and Construction Sustainability: Sunken design reduces building mass; clears existing waste to lower ecological impact, avoids construction waste. Saves 40,000 m³ of earth, 65 million RMB, and over 2 months of construction.
Ecological Sustainability and Bio-Friendly Design: A green roof integrates the building into the landscape. Using historical data, 90 hectares were restored with "wild" characteristics, including 12 hectares of wetlands. Wildlife-friendly designs feature nesting eaves. Controlled lighting hides direct light to protect nocturnal species. Post-completion, 126 bird species and other small wildlife have been recorded.
Passive Measures and Energy Sustainability: The sunken space, green roof, and wetlands optimize noise, PM2.5, and humidity. Passive techniques enhance thermal inertia—achieving 13–14°C indoor-outdoor temperature difference without air conditioning, and 1.2 m/s courtyard wind speed in calm conditions. Courtyards enhance natural ventilation, reducing fresh air energy.
Climate Resilience Sustainability: Integrating cultural and ecological resilience, the sunken space's waterproofing and flood prevention system has withstood extreme tests including severe rainfall, flooding, and high temperatures.
Technological Sustainability: Rammed-earth-effect façade panel technology is developed; avoids traditional defects, enhances quality, reduces assembly time. Max panel size 4.2m*2.1m minimizes joints, boosting insulation and airtightness. Granted 1 international patent.
The Dahecun Site Museum, part of the Dahecun National Archaeological Park, is China's first panoramic Yangshao Culture museum. Spanning 20,000 sq m, it is also the country's largest fully sunken-site museum.
Initial design challenges:
• The fragile, low-lying prehistoric remains required avoiding large-scale surface structures.
• The site, formerly a landfill, needed complete soil replacement, but standard methods were costly and time-consuming.
• The area suffered ecological damage, loss of native species, and poor stormwater capacity.
Strategy 1:
A sunken design, dug to the same depth as the required landfill replacement, minimized the modern structure's visual impact. This saved 40,000 cubic meters of earthwork, over 65 million yuan, and more than two months of construction time.
Strategy 2:
A green roof integrated the building into the landscape, restoring the site's habitat with a focus on wildness. Based on historical landscape data, 90 hectares were ecologically restored, including 12 hectares of wetlands and waterways. The building features wildlife-friendly designs like eaves for nesting. Controlled nighttime lighting, integrated with wall panels, reduces interference with nocturnal wildlife. Post-completion, 126 bird species and other small wildlife have been observed on site.
Strategy 3:
Simulations and field tests show that the sunken spaces, green roof, and surrounding wetlands effectively regulate the indoor and outdoor thermal and wind environments, while also optimizing noise, PM2.5, and humidity levels.
Strategy 4:
Integrating cultural heritage and ecological resilience, the sunken space features a waterproofing and flood prevention system, successfully withstanding extreme weather tests including heavy rainfall and high temperatures.
Strategy 5:
A patented exterior wall panel, with a layered effect mimicking rammed earth and a maximum size of 4.2m by 2.1m, was developed along with its construction process, securing one international patent.