The Hall of SSS

The Hall of SSS

This project is one of the three campus startup initiatives at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and the first venture to be concurrently incubated in both the Student Enterprise Park and the X? co-venture. It serves as a symbolic bridge linking the entrepreneurial cultures of the SIP and Taicang campuses. In July 2025, the project was inspected by the presidents and board members of XJTLU, Xi’an Jiaotong University, and the University of Liverpool.

Taking the Hall of SSS, the former residence of Mr. Zhan Tianyou at XJTLU’s Taicang Campus, as its inaugural case study, the project leverages diversified digital technologies (XR and 3D printing) to enable co-creation around Chinese traditional cultural heritage. It aims to explore and iterate diverse experiential approaches to local cultural heritage. Located on the southeastern slope of the Taicang Entrepreneur College, the the Hall of SSS was originally the family residence of Zhan Tianyou, a renowned railway industrialist of the Qing Dynasty. The structure inherits traditional Huizhou craftsmanship and wooden mortise-and-tenon joints, with its overhanging eaves, bracket sets, brick carvings, and tile decorations embodying the cultural and aesthetic essence of the Jiangnan region. As a historical and cultural landmark of XJTLU, the Hall of SSS not only symbolizes the integration of Chinese and Western cultures but also provides an ideal research space and source of inspiration for the project.

Building upon the unique cultural heritage and spatial structure of the Ronghe Hall, the project creates an “XR Digital Cultural Heritage Co-Creation Space.” Here, “co-creation” signifies that the preservation and innovation of cultural heritage are no longer a unidirectional process of research or display but an open, multi-stakeholder endeavor. It emphasizes the collaborative participation of scholars, designers, technicians, and the public in the digital reconstruction, redesign, and dissemination of cultural heritage. This model upgrades the traditional “preservation¨Cdisplay¨Creception” approach to a “collaboration¨Crecreation¨Csharing” paradigm. Through advanced digital technologies such as Extended Reality (XR) and 3D printing, the project aims to achieve modern reinterpretation and multimodal dissemination of local cultural heritage. the Hall of SSS serves not only as a research and development case but also as a carrier for “dual virtual and physical experiences” of cultural heritage. Furthermore, it acts as a pioneering demonstration project for future B2B markets, providing a model for the industrial application of cultural heritage digitization.

Within the virtual environment constructed by the project, users transition from passive visitors to active designers and re-creators. By wearing an all-in-one Head-Mounted Display (HMD) to enter the virtual exhibition hall¡ªthe ?Hall of SSS¡ªusers can immersively experience classic Huiz architectural scenes such as the “Four Waters Returning to the Hall” skywell in the main hall. Unconstrained by weather or heritage preservation restrictions, they can more intuitively appreciate the spatial layout and aesthetic charm of ancient Chinese architecture. In the virtual space, users can interact with architectural elements such as mortise-and-tenon joints, overhanging eaves, bracket sets, and horse-head walls, exploring their structural mechanics and design significance. Simultaneously, they can collect cultural design elements, including artifact carriers (Bronze Ding, Blue-and-White Porcelain), classic patterns (Cloud Pattern, Dragon and Phoenix Motif), and traditional colors (Chinese Red, Imperial Yellow). Assisted by a virtual panel providing historical context and craft information, users can reorganize, modify, and innovatively redesign these cultural elements. This process ensures that their creations possess not only aesthetic value but also cultural understanding and knowledge transmission. The introduction of VR technology allows for low-risk, immersive exploration and redesign of cultural heritage that is otherwise restricted or inaccessible, enabling highly free and diversified cultural experiences.

The virtual architectural or cultural derivative designs completed by users can not only be saved and shared but also materialized into high-precision physical models through resin-based 3D printing. Here, 3D printing technology is not merely a means of showcasing outcomes but a critical step in translating users’ virtual creativity into tangible form. It extends the digital reinvention of cultural heritage from visual experience to physical tactile sensation, transforming virtual symbols into dynamic interactive experiences and visualizable outcomes. This enhances immersion and a sense of achievement while providing practical possibilities for B2B applications in education, cultural tourism, and the creative industries.

Ultimately, the project establishes a cyclical system encompassing “cultural experience¨Cmaterial collection¨Ccreative practice¨Cdigital output,” enabling the continuity and regeneration of cultural heritage across both virtual and physical dimensions. It promotes the innovative transformation and development of traditional culture within contemporary contexts.