Transforming Dong Fufeng's private home into a museum

The Dong Fufeng House Museum is a listed brick-wood building which was the birthplace of the famous master of economics. As well as displaying his academic achievements, the museum is also the setting for numerous academic forums and conferences. This project became a bridge connecting the general public to Dong Fureng’s past. This type of project is not common in China, because, normally, house museums use only a display of pictures. But in this case different display formats were employed and the house was successfully transformed into a monumental space and as such facilitates a wide range of social activities, such as economic forums. As a listed building, the museum is subject to regulations which protect its historical significance. Consequently, the residence could only be renovated via limited designs and is protected in order to commemorate the master. In Ningbo, few former residences of the famous can be preserved due to a lack of appropriate examples. This project provides Ningbo City with a model to inform the local government with regard to how the former residences of celebrities can be repurposed as museums. In Ningbo, few former residences of the famous can be preserved due to a lack of appropriate examples. This project provides Ningbo City with a model to inform the local government with regard to how the former residences of celebrities can be repurposed as museums. The museum has attracted many visitors who spend their free time here. This listed building is being well protected because it’s being well used. As for sustainability, reusing this building reduced the use of steel and concrete which would otherwise have been needed to rebuild it. Challenge As a listed building, the museum is subject to regulations which protect its historical significance. Consequently, the residence could only be renovated via limited designs and is protected in order to commemorate the master. In Ningbo, few former residences of the famous can be preserved due to a lack of appropriate examples. Solution Air-conditioning pipes are not visible in any of the rooms, as the entire ground floor is raised on a light nail-free structure which ensures that the original ground floor will not be damaged. As the MEP pipelines are hidden, moisture proofing can be achieved. The new floor could be easily dismantled in the future and any potential damage to the historical timber structure could be avoided. All electrical pipelines are fixed in place with metal hoops instead of nails; the air conditioning hoods are designed to look like his old furniture; The cost of this whole work is only ₤200,000.00, which is very low for a building of this type; the reusing and repurposing of the building for its role in this new era make it sustainable.