The visitor and exhibition center is located just outside Chetian village, on the main road arriving from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province, in South-West China. The building stands on a site left abandoned after the construction of the new road.

Chetian village is an important tourist attraction in the region and aims to protect and promote local minorities’ traditions and its unique stone houses, built with local materials coming from the village’s pit. With this building architects aim to celebrate and describe the changes the village went through during the long cohabitation between Miao (the local ethnic minority group) and Han (the largest ethnic group in China).

Chetian village is arranged in parallel bands and is surrounded by mountains and rivers, arranged in a parallel order. Architects integrated this characteristic parallel feature in the design of the visitor center: three parallel units are arranged following a L shape. The first band, called white courtyard, is characterized by ritualistic white walls, recalling the most typical Han courtyard style. Categorized as stone lane, the space created by the second band works as a gallery space. Restrooms facilities are located at the very end of the long secluded stone corridor, in the northernmost corner. The third band, called stone hall, includes all the main functions: visitors’ reception, gallery, areas for ceremonies, counseling, multimedia exhibition and offices.

The interiors are characterized by the use of the local blue stone and concrete panels hanged on the walls. In the reception and exhibition hall particular interior decorations, inspired by the old irrigating system (waterwheel + digging canals), pay homage to the village’s history and its prosperity, both related to irrigation technologies.

The construction mode and choice of materials have been very important in describing this architectural mingling. The stone, coming from the nearby village’s pit, has a unique blue shade, which is why it is commonly called blue stone. It comes from sedimentary rocks and its major components are limestone and dolomite. Architects used these stones in the walls and roof, showing deep respect for the historical masonry traditions of the village.

The project reflects the architectural mingling, acquiring a strong cultural significance for both local community and visitors, in celebrating the village and its traditions. Local culture and traditional construction techniques and artifacts will not only be displayed by the different exhibitions, but are already displayed by the building itself.