Sustainable and Creative Village Research Network 5th Symposium

The 5th symposium/workshop event of the AHRC funded Research Network was held from 22-24 March 2019 in Chongqing, China. The event was hosted and co-organised by Chongqing Jiaotong University, some information in Chinese is available at http://education.cqnews.net/html/2019-03/24/content_50360355.html and https://h5.cqliving.com/info/detail/1810068.html.

The event attracted over 200 attendees and was opened by the University Vice President Professor Zhao Mingjie PhD and had a further 16 presentations from architects, planners and academics over the first day. The focus of the event was on rural sustainability in China, recognising that with the implementation of the Chinese rural revitalisation strategy, architectural schools have begun to deepen understanding of rural construction through several means. These include: teacher-centred design practice, rural construction curriculum teaching, a rural revitalization themed design competition, and experience of local rural construction practice.

The content of this symposium included presentations from the regional architectural practice of several famous architects. In these several elements were linked taking note of urban and rural construction teaching and local practice; the combination of rural construction teaching and practical activities; and architectural drawing education combined with local cultural identity. There was also a presentation on developments in building practices to increase resistance to earthquake damage.

The University of Huddersfield also helped organise a second symposium event and exhibition opening on the following day that was held at the well-known ‘Chongqing House’ which is the sustainably designed office building occupied by BOA Architects and Interior Designers. Prof Evgeny Aleksandrovich of the world renowned Repin Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg gave a guest presentation on the first day and also an opening address for the exhibition on the second day.