Exploring Conservation and Development Strategies for Architectural Heritage：A Case Study from Paris Hotel in Kaiping, Guangdong

Abstract:

Since the inscription of Kaiping Diaolou and Villages on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in June 2007, a multitude of tourists have been attracted to the place. Monuments in Kaiping demon-strate rustic, idyllic beauty of naturalness and convey historical significance. Certain Western trav-ellers even regard the area as the last paradise among cultural heritage sites in China. How to pro-tect the monuments there, to guard them from structural damage or over-commercialisation as at other scenic spots within the country This is a sustained and difficult problem that needs to be tackled with by Kaiping municipal government, its heritage management as well as tourism de-partments. This article takes Paris Hotel, a building in Chikan Town of Kaiping, as an example to search for a sensible adaptive re-use scheme aiming to develop local economy while preserving cultural heritage at the same time.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 291-294)
• Pages: 960-965
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.291-294.960
• Online since: February 2013
• Authors: Jin Hua Tan Selia
• Keywords: Cultural Heritage Conservation, Sensible Adaptive Re-Use, Vernacular Architecture

References

[3] In line with practical needs and discussion result, the interior of Paris Hotel has been functionally divided. A café and a bistro are located on the first floor. The second floor serves the purposes of display, management and education, while the third and fourth resume the role of a hotel. Exhibition on the second floor should consist of local history and culture, proprietor's family story and history of the building. It should also showcase processes such as building conservation, treatment of the setting, and installation of equipment with a view to expounding the cultural value of Paris Hotel as well as demonstrating the charisma of the structure itself and the maintenance concept to visitors, thereby reaching the goal of raising public awareness towards the heritage site. To meet the above objectives and to align with the current mainstream practice of heritage conservation and adaptive re-use, this plan seeks to adopt the style of the good old days as its main tone for interior decoration. The simple yet elegant mode could also manifest the cultural connotation of the hometown of overseas Chinese. This approach would provide visitors with experiences of the past, and at the same time, fulfil the aims of preservation and promotion. Development concept and strategies of Paris Hotel revitalisation plan According to the analysis of local tourist markets, advantages enjoyed by the revitalised Paris Hotel in the historical town of Chikan are: brand name effect induced by the world heritage site Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, unique resources constituted by integrated Chinese-Western style architecture and the rustic character of its people, similar facilities in Chikan not amounting to anything yet hence little competition. However, shortcomings also exist: difficulty in opening up local market due to the low number of regular residents, and service area being limited owing to insufficient outdoor parking space. Additionally, the interior of Paris Hotel had undergone several major renovations, and the layout has been changed beyond recognition. Those still remember it are well over 80, it is fading from their memory. Moreover, related photos, documents and information were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. It would be hard to reconstruct the life of that period. Therefore, this research will explore strategies that exploit the advantages and avoid the disadvantages, define tourist zone and make planning and design. Based on surveys conducted by the tourism department, Kaiping tourists fall into the following categories: 1)Self-drive travellers from surrounding areas, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai; 2)Overseas and domestic group tour, the latter primarily from provinces close to Guangdong; 3)Kaiping natives and tourists from Wuyi region; 4)Professors, experts, scholars, students, writers, painters and photographers from various places; 5)Crew members for shooting film or commercial in Chikan; 6)Hometown visitors and root-searching overseas Chinese. Pondering over the make-up of visitors, the authorities realise that those who can bring in stable revenue for Paris Hotel should be mainland and foreign in-depth cultural tourists, overseas Chinese, persons on inspection or study visit to Chikan, which include experts, scholars, students, writers, painters and photographers, as well as crew members for shooting film or commercial there. Better educated, this group of people tend to have higher demand for accommodation. Paris Hotel should thus position itself as a place that provides service for them, should be built into a platform for exchange between social figures encompassing experts, scholars, artists and directors, rather than limiting its service to local consumers or backpackers. Development strategies.

[1] Increase popularity By launching regular programmes such as photo competition, writing contest, painting and calligraphy contest, invite experts in related fields to conduct academic exchange at Paris Hotel. This will not only raise local intelligentsia's awareness towards the heritage site, offer them a platform for exchange among themselves or with the outer world, but also enhance Paris Hotel's popularity. Create a website for Paris Hotel, conduct promotional campaigns on major travel information nets and travel magazines, send photocopied brochures and postcards to customers for maximum exposure. Run commercials at the end of movies or MV shot in Chikan with a view to enhancing its popularity. Put advertisements on related web pages, such as those of research centre for Chinese history, organisers of root-searching tours, Hong Kong's and Macao's web media. Cooperate with travel agencies conducting ecological tours, make tourists from the international community, Hong Kong and the mainland aware of the mission and characteristics of Paris Hotel.

[2] Plan routes for in-depth cultural travel Dig into the history and cultural connotation of peripheral districts of Paris Hotel, such as Chikan Town and pertinent villages. Upgrade the former residences of historical figures, their haunts and workplaces in Chikan, as well as important public buildings. Design itineraries that can offer professional knowledge as a unique experience for Paris Hotel guests, suggestions including A stroll through Chikan historical buildings", "In-depth world heritage travel of Kaiping Diaolou and Villages", "In-depth architectural tour of the hometown of overseas Chinese", and "In-depth cultural tour of the hometown of overseas Chinese". These routes will significantly enrich Chikan, s tourism resources, providing hotel guests with experience of in-depth cultural travel. Additionally, these will complement the exhibition launched on the second floor of Paris Hotel, in which the cultural value of Chikan architecture is demonstrated and local spirit conveyed to tourists.

[3] Encourage public and tourists' participation Team up with local Kaiping community groups such as Friends of Kaiping Diaolou", "Photographic Association" and "Local Culture Association, to train heritage docents to serve the public. Allow more locals to take part in the probe into the history and culture of Chikan. Provide tourists with opportunities to join the formulation of strategies concerning the conservation, design and development of historical buildings.

[4] Launch a homestay programme Through the operation of Paris Hotel, fuel up local passion for running the homestay business, and serve as an example for its growth in Kaiping. Design proposal of re-using the Paris Hotel building Having conducted research and analysis of the Paris Hotel building, its history and surrounding area, the author and her design team adopted the following revitalisation programme.

[1] Chinese restaurant on the left side of first floor primarily echoes a concise and pithy style. The festive lantern pattern on the wall is transformed from that of the flooring of Paris Hotel, exuding a nostalgic sentiment. This space was used for other functions and lost the original character, that's why we need create a nostalgic sentiment via refining the design patterns of the floor tiles upstairs. See fig. 1.

[2] Layout of the café on first floor right preserves its past function as a venue for film screening in early 1980s, and related scenes from over 40 movies shot in Chikan will be shown. Submerged in a romantic and carefree atmosphere, guests may witness once again the elegance and charm of this ancient town renowned for its shophouses. See fig. 2.

[3] Office on the second floor employs a simple and transparent tone. All the fixtures including counter, partition wall and pendant lamp must comply with the principle of reversibility. See fig. 3.

[4] Permanent display is set at the exhibition hall on second floor, while some display walls are reserved for temporary exhibition. When a lecture is held, folding chairs will be carried out to the middle, and the white wall will be used as a projection screen. See fig. 4.

[5] The third and fourth floors retain the initial accommodation function of the building. The original wood components such as window grille and wood door are preserved to the greatest extent. No change in partitioning will be made to maintain an authentic feeling. Distinguish the old furniture from new pieces by choosing those similar in style but different in material or colour. See fig. 5. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Acknowledgements This work was financially supported by Compass Special Project sponsored by the State Cultural Relics Bureau of China, 2012-(2013).