Dahecun National Archaeological Site Park And Dehecun Site Museum
DAHECUN NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE PARK AND DEHECUN SITE MUSEUM
China Architecture Design & Research Group
ARCHITECTS
China Architecture Design & Research Group
LEAD ARCHITECTS
Chen Tongbin, Jing Quan, Xu Yuanqing
INTERIOR DESIGN
Zhang Zhejing, Wang Qiang, Xing Lu
SITE PLANNING
GAO Zhi, Dong Yikun
LANDSCAPE
Wang Hongtao, Sun Hao, Mu Ze, Qi Shimingyue
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN TEAM
Liu Chang, Zhang Jie, Geng Bihui, Yan Dong, Zhai Yuhang, Wu Nanwei, Li Bizhou
HERITAGE CONSERVATION
Wang Linfeng, Ren Jie, Han Boya, Wang Yafen, Yang Keke, Zhu Yifu, Wang Xu
HVAC
Hu Jianli, Shi Kai, Chang Chenchen
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Ren Qingying, Liu Wenting, Liu Shuai
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
Chang Liqiang, Song Haiwei
PLUMBING
Liu Hai, Liu Yang
INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
Pei Yuanjie
LIGHTING DESIGN
Tongyuan (Beijing) Lighting Design Co., LTD
CONSULTANTS
China Construction First Building(Group) Co., LTD.
CLIENTS
Dahecun National Archaeological Site Park & Zhengzhou New Development Real Estate Co., LTD.
GREEN BUILDING CONSULTING
Yi Wenting, Lin Bo
PHOTOGRAPHS
Xiang Li, Haoquan Wang
AREA
19977 m²
YEAR
2025
LOCATION
Zhengzhou, China
CATEGORY
Museums & Exhibit
English description provided by the architects.
-1 PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Dahecun Site, which has lain dormant in the hinterland of the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River for over 6,800 years, holds outstanding significance as a benchmark of Yangshao Culture in the core Central Plains region.
The Dahecun Site Museum, a key component of the Dahecun National Archaeological Park, is China's first venue to present a comprehensive display of Yangshao Culture.
With a floor area of 20,000 m², it is also the largest fully sunken archaeological site museum in the country.
Through its sunken design, the building steps back from the archaeological remains and dissolves its own mass, allowing natural processes to reshape the land.
-2 CHALLENGES
The project confronted three intertwined obstacles: (a) the extreme fragility of prehistoric deposits, which prohibited large scale surface construction;
(b) the site's former use as a landfill, necessitating complete soil replacement with prohibitive cost and schedule implications; and (c) severe ecological degradation, marked by loss of native species and diminished stormwater capacity.
-3 STRATEGIES
- MASSING & EARTHWORK SAVINGS
The sunken footprint is excavated to the same depth as contaminated soil replacement, eliminating backfill.
This saved 40,000 m³ of earthwork, over 65 million RMB, and more than two months of construction time.
- ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION & BIODIVERSITY
A green roof merges the building with the park landscape. Based on historical data, 90 hectares were restored to a "wild" state, including 12 hectares of wetlands. Biodiversity-friendly design and controlled low-illuminance lighting have enabled the return of 126 bird species, with sightings of other small animals also reported.
- PASSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
Wind and thermal simulations guided the design: winter pedestrian level wind speeds stay below 5 m/s, and over 50% of operable surfaces achieve effective natural ventilation. The sunken courtyards, green roof, and wetlands moderate microclimate, yielding a 13–14°C indoor outdoor temperature differential without mechanical cooling and a 1.2 m/s courtyard breeze under calm conditions. Anti condensation detailing prevents moisture issues in winter.
- CLIMATE RESILIENCE
In response to the catastrophic "7.20" rainstorm of 2021, a comprehensive flood protection system was developed for sunken spaces, integrating patented dual drainage, retaining walls, and artifact repository barriers. The system has since withstood heavy rainfall and extreme heat.
- INNOVATIVE ENVELOPE TECHNOLOGY
A patented rammed earth effect façade panel (max size 4.2 m × 2.1 m) was developed, minimizing joints, improving insulation and airtightness, and accelerating on site assembly—securing one international patent.
- 4 THE EARTH SETTLES; THE BIRDS RETURN.
Since its opening, the museum has garnered acclaim for its immersive exhibits.
Yet its most profound achievement lies beyond the exhibitions: the return of bird calls beneath the eaves and the resurgence of wilderness above millennia old foundations.
When humanity learns to step back, life finds its way home—fulfilling the museum's dual mission of cultural preservation and ecological renewal.
