Restoration of architectural buildings in the Huizhou area: the practice of restoring the Shu Guoan House

Abstract

The article is devoted to a systematic analysis of approaches to the restoration and conservation of the architectural heritage of the historical region of Huizhou (China), through the case of the restoration practice of the Shu Guoan house. The research focuses on structures built from the 16th to the early 20th century, during the peak of Huizhou merchant culture. This chronological classification directly influences restoration approaches, as it dictates the authentic construction materials, techniques and layout solutions that require specific conservation methods. The study employed a range of methods, including the historical-chronological method, empirical methods (field surveys, monitoring and interviewing), as well as comparative and problem-based analysis. The research material comprises the architectural objects of the historical Huizhou region constructed between the 16th and early 20th centuries, with a particular focus on the thoroughly examined Shu Guoan House. The empirical data consists of field survey findings documenting the physical degradation of materials and the condition of the historical environment. The source material includes documentary records on state heritage protection, adaptive reuse and museumification projects, alongside socio-economic data concerning heritage management and the fragmentation of property rights.

Using a historical-chronological approach, three key stages in the development of conservation practices are identified. The study also provides a structural and typological analysis of Huizhou architecture, whose authentic features, formed during the aforementioned period, are defined by a combined timber-and-stone structural system, an internal layout with enclosed courtyards (sanheyuan and siheyuan), an ecologically balanced organization of settlements and their socio-cultural function as centres of clan life. This heritage is noted to face a range of contemporary challenges, including the physical degradation of materials, functional obsolescence of spaces, disruption of the historical settlement environment and management complexities caused by fragmented property rights. Current preservation practices are classified into three distinct models: state protection of heritage sites; adaptive reuse for new functions, as exemplified by boutique hotels; museumification and historical reconstruction, including the relocation of structures. The restoration project of the Shu Guoan House is examined as a detailed case study, demonstrating the application of tools such as a multi-level cultural value assessment based on the period of construction, digital documentation and modelling technologies, alongside functional-spatial optimization that respects the historical layout. The findings form a theoretical and methodological framework for developing strategies for the sustainable development and contemporary adaptation of the architectural heritage of Huizhou within its historical and chronological context.