Rooted in the cultural characteristics of the Lingnan region, the architectural renewal of Shuipu Elementary School takes vernacular revitalization as its core concept. By integrating the traditional construction wisdom of Lingnan with contemporary design language, the abandoned school building is transformed into a heritage site park museum that embodies the theme of ancient human culture spanning millennia, achieving the regeneration of the architectural heritage’s spatial-temporal value. The design first preserves the original main reinforced concrete structure of the school building, then creatively incorporates the spatial compositional elements of Lingnan gardens—integrating corridors, halls, pavilions, courtyards, pathways, and verandas into the building and site layout to form an interwoven indoor and outdoor visitor experience circulation. This not only provides visitors with an immersive cultural exhibition but also reconstructs a public memory anchor for villagers to gather and engage in daily leisure activities, creating a contemporary garden unique to Lütian Town—Lü Garden. The final presentation, “Transparent Realm,” is expressed through three dimensions: first, the relationship between roofs and courtyards; second, the connections among Lingnan spatial elements; and third, the dialogue between space, heritage, and nature. In terms of architectural treatment, the design reintegrates elements from Shuipu Elementary School and Lingnan architecture into the renovated building, demonstrating a high degree of adaptability to the local climate through passive design strategies. This renewal model, with “Lingnan DNA” as its core, not only reshapes the cultural identity of Lütian Town, Shuipu Village, and even Conghua District through vernacular responses but also provides a paradigm of “symbiosis between old and new” for other abandoned buildings in the region awaiting renewal, allowing historical narratives to continuously grow within contemporary spatial storytelling.

current situation of Shuipu Elementary School