The new Tofu Factory in Caizhai village is to upgrade the tofu product fitting with food certificate standards by integrating the original individual family workshops. It is also to restore the village identity by showcasing the traditional tofu making as village intangible cultural heritage.

The assembly timber structure creates a dialogue with the traditional “tenon and mortise” wooden structure in the village. The building requires a simple maintenance operation while maintaining regional cultural characteristics at the same time.

The factory is also a social structure: two villager unions are established, one as production union to operate the factory, the other one to grow organic soya beans to ensure the quality of raw material.

The factory has not only inspired a more ecological agriculture, but also transformed the individual farmers’ households into collective entity to engage in the market economy.