Paralleling the rise of urban density in cities such as Weihai (Shandong), the migration of villagers to urban areas resulted in the dilapidation of rural coastal villages. In Chinese culture, individuals often trace their roots not to where they live within their respective city, but to their ancestral villages – commonly referred to as “Old Home.” This thesis aims to recover aspects of the culture and identity of rural villages, instilling traditional material patterns, crafts, and culinary traditions in the design of a new cultural destination for urban tourists and locals, erected at the site of an abandoned wharf in Weihai. 

The wharf serves as a canvas for designed elements to unfold, creating a space of nostalgic vessel that reactivates the site to showcase design elements inspired by the culture of coastal living to its inhabitants. Through dissecting and analyzing a typical household commonly found in coastal villages, a catalog of patterns is formed with unique aesthetic qualities. Some patterns are direct retracing, while others are composite and redesigned, offering dynamic aesthetics to the site. These innovative material patterns serve a dual function: they evoke memories and encapsulate the essence of coastal existence.

Each material symbolizes the essential value of grassroots upbringing in these villages. The pursuit of authenticity avoids direct approaches to recovering from deterioration and unfavorable environments, instead opting for soft approaches that subtly evoke nostalgia and connection. Derived from the elements and identity of coastal villages, these materials and patterns infuse the wharf with significance beyond mere massing intervention, transforming it into a vessel of memories.