The Shanghai firm of Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu has turned an old chemical-research facility in the Chinese city of Dalian into a cultural and commercial complex named The Yard, using six buildings that used to house offices, warehouses, and workers’ quarters to accommodate new uses, such as art galleries, a library, a cinema, and retail spaces.

The original U-shaped arrangement of the constructions was maintained, surrounding a courtyard. Drawing inspiration from the spatial sequences of traditional Chinese gardens, the intervention harnesses the introspective, reserved nature of the place. With the aim of generating an architectural language that can unify the complex, the palette of materials – sober and carefully selected – complements the industrial history of the site. Core-ten steel, chosen for its changing patina, is the main material used in exterior faces. Inside, harmony between new and old is expressed through the juxtaposition of smooth plaster surfaces, exposed bricks, and structural elements, establishing a dialogue between past and present.