Gezhu 5.0 is the cultural experience project part of the Faculty Student Experience Programme (SEP). As one of the flagship programmes in FoSE, the SEP means to offer a diverse range of undergraduate research practice opportunities, essential skills training and cultural experience activities to enhance skills, expand knowledge, and promote humanities literacy for FoSE students, to further enrich students’ experience in the summer holiday.

This year, there are 16 students from different programmes enrolled. Learning about the need of the Former Residence of Wang Yangming for designing museum souvenirs, students started to do some research about it and field visits to better understand the philosophy of Wang Yangming.

The project is supervised by Yimeng Wang from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment. After four years of iteration and innovation, this year’s project focused on cultural commemoration and spatial storytelling with the inspiration of ‘monument’. Working in teams, students were tasked with designing interactive, building blocks souvenirs based on Xin Jian Bo Memorial Archway in the Former Residence of Wang Yangming. Additionally, they used AI to generate abstract monument structures, transforming philosophical concepts into perceptible spatial narratives.

Students visited the Former Residence of Wang Yangming in Yuyao, studying the structure, spatial relationships, and inscriptions of the archway in the context of monuments. They delved into philosophical tenets such as "the unity of knowledge and action" and "the mind is principle," documenting their observations through sketches and spatial notes.

Subsequently, the four groups developed distinct interpretations—some using reflective pools to symbolize "the mind is principle," others employing tree-like structures to represent "the unity of knowledge and action." They firstly generated abstract forms using tools like Midjourney, Getting.ai, and Stable Diffusion, then refined them with architectural and cultural elements. Alongside digital creations, each group also designed and made prototypes of the building blocks souvenirs, transforming static tradition into an interactive contemporary expression.

Under the guidance of Yimeng Wang, the project encouraged students to visualise abstract concepts, enhancing their skills in image generation and model construction. Over ten days, each team presented remarkable designs and outcomes.

"I was happy to see students from different programmes bring new ideas to the project," Yimeng noted. “With the assistance of AI tools, students from various disciplines experienced the basic workflow of architectural design. In the workshop, they successfully handmade 1:1 product prototypes, recreating entirely different forms of cultural and creative products. They brainstormed together, using their knowledge to bring new ideas to the designs, such as empowering artworks with NFC chips, showcasing the rich possibilities of interdisciplinary design.”

Ms Min Fang, Director of the Former Residence of Wang Yangming, valued high the outcomes: "The four souvenir designs infused traditional symbols with modern interpretations. The use of lighting created a visual spectacle, while NFC technology transformed static narratives into immersive experiences—truly embodying 'the unity of knowledge and action.' This project demonstrates how AI can empower cultural innovation, redefining memorials for a new era."

Yimeng reflected on the challenges of AI-assisted design: "Through this project, students recognised the limitations of AI, such as its lack of originality, aesthetic homogeneity, and its shallow philosophical grasp. These issues highlight both the challenges and opportunities of human-AI collaboration in future design education."

Cultural transmission demands new forms, and monument requires new design languages. We hope students will continue exploring how to merge philosophy, materials, and technology, creating contemporary expressions that honor tradition.