Conservation concept
Cang Dong Village building restoration is being carried out in a phased operation. The two ancestral halls have been repaired using two different concepts. At the Bing Wen Xie ancestral hall a full restoration of architectural style to the original is adopted, while at Hou Cheng Xien ancestral hall a principal of minimum intervention is adopted to keep the current authentic look and preserve the collective memory of the village.
During the repair process, memories and suggestions from the villagers were respected. Only invited, experienced local craftsmen were employed, using traditional techniques and materials, and making a record of work before, during and after the work. Repair processes respected the authenticity and integrity of the original building. We also followed the principle of reversibility. We have deliberately renovated and reused old furniture and available components.
Repair preliminary investigation records
We followed guidance given by the UN for cultural heritage restoration. In the summer of 2011, prior to the restoration, a full investigation and recording was made by 22 students from the Department of Architecture of Wuyi University under the leadership of two teachers. They spent 15 days at Cang Dong village and made construction surveys, focusing on the watchtower and the lu (mansions) and the traditional three room-two corridor houses. They recorded the village architecture, the the construction design, materials and style, the historical development and evolution of the buildings and the village architectural planning and feng shui elements. The survey provides us a solid basis for the building restoration and revitalization.