Header: Folk Photography
Silverfish Street is located in one of Qingdao’s earliest developed neighborhoods, dating back to the German occupation. There, a courtyard dressed in the distinctive architectural typology of Qingdao’s regional traditions was recently renovated, receiving a push towards our modern age without erasing its past. Originally designed by Himsen Architecture, a German firm, the building reflects the historical layers that only the blend of cultures can create, and this renovation’s goal was precisely to enhance this.
The renovation aimed to preserve the historical scale and spatial rhythm of the surrounding streets and alleys while addressing the building’s deteriorated condition. This condition meant that the building’s skeleton needed extra care, so the designers from Qingdao Metaphor Design Consulting started by reinforcing the structure before adding more contemporary elements.
Key design elements include new black-framed windows and steel cladding that contrast with the original masonry, visually distinguishing the modern interventions from the original structure. An elevated walkway connects two buildings, incorporating tinted glass and steel to create a star within the narrow courtyard.
The courtyard has been revamped as a public space, having received a black-and-white chequerboard paving that seems to bring one back to past times. Retail and hospitality spaces, such as Morning & Morton, took their place in the restored ground-level interiors, which maintain exposed brick and steel finishes as an ode to the site’s industrial heritage.
This renovation shows how functionality and conservation can coexist without letting go of modern aesthetics, having even been awarded the “Architectural Design – Heritage” award at the BLT Built Design Awards . The result is a vibrant, mixed-used environment that pays its respects to its historical context, something necessary in a city so touched by the politics of the past.
