Ruin Stage
Adaptive Reuse of Heritage, 2023
Genazzano, Italy
Design: ZHANG Jie, YANG Chen
Honorable Mention of Reuse Italy Competition
Heritage symbolizes our civilization, but can it be more than just a monument? Can it also act as a catalyst for local cultural activities? This project, created for the Reuse Italy Competition, reimagines the ruins of a nymphaeum with this question in mind.
Looking back at the history of Genazzano, we find a town that was once a vibrant resort with a rich cultural life. In the late 20th century, the renowned artist Bussotti used the Nymphaeum as a stage for musicals and as a hub for music and art education.
Building on this legacy, the project expands the site’s cultural program and repurposes the ruin as a “stage” for dramatic events. We challenge the traditional view of heritage by rethinking its monumentality and relevance to contemporary life, proposing to transform the ruin into a multifunctional cultural center.
The design features an open interior hall that adapts to various weather conditions, capable of hosting a wide range of events.
The Nymphaeum Cultural Center we proposed will preserve the heritage from decay, functioning as an “ecosystem box.” The creek flows over the hall, while trees provide natural shade. In the off-season, the space can serve as a cinema, gallery, showroom, or open-air bar. Movable furniture within the hall allows for flexibility, making the space dynamic and multifunctional.
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About
The Lab
Founded in 2019, ReBuild Lab focus on urban spaces and everyday constructions.
Outstanding Proposal (2023, China)Zhoushan Hello Islands Installation Competition
Honorable Mention (2023, Italy)
Reuse Italy Competition
Honorable Mention (2022, Estonia)
Tallinn Architecture Biennale-Vision Competition
Shortlist Nomination (2021, USA)
Ann Arbor Art Center-Alley Project
First Place (2020, UK)
Bubble Future Competition
Second Place (2019, India)
Archasm Competition
Members
ZHANG Jie / 张婕is a spatial designer and artist based in Shanghai. She trained as an architect at Huaqiao University and the University of Hong Kong from 2013 to 2020. Since relocating to Shanghai in 2020, she has focused on small-scale installations and spatial design, while continuously providing commercial interior design services for retail companies and government projects.
YANG Chen / 杨晨 is an architectural designer and illustrator based in Florence. He studied architecture at Huaqiao University (2013-2018) and Politecnico di Torino (2019-2021), and has worked at WNA Architects in Torino and ACE Srl. in Florence.
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