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Construction Sustainable

Holcim Awards 2005 - Asia Pacific - Acknowledgement

Five Scattered Houses, Ning Bo, China

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"One Wave and Three Twists" was completed in 2008 using a modernized traditional building concept (main image) as part of a project to reinterpret a traditional building culture combining vernacular techniques of construction and contemporary tectonic expression (inset).

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Type of project:

Public utilities

Start of construction:
April 2005

Principal authors:
WANG Shu and LU Wenyu, architects from Hangzhou, China


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Project Summary
From southern China, this entry makes a compelling case for reinterpreting the traditional building culture. An innovative translation of a historical house typology to a series of modern dwellings is proposed for the city center. Ecologically, the project is merited for its sensitive deployment of low-cost natural resources, reactivating the manufacture of low-tech, handmade structures, and the use of recycled materials. By promoting the use of local materials and traditional craftsmanship, the buildings require less maintenance, have a smaller impact on the environment, and are more energy efficient. In this sense, a balance is struck between nature and human occupation. A feasible economic solution is presented that could serve to stimulate employment and development in the region. Also merited is the combination of vernacular techniques of construction and contemporary tectonic expression, a synthesis that is aesthetically rich.

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Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction 2005 - Asia Pacific - Acknowledgement  Five Scattered Houses, Ning Bo, China
Acknowledgement prize (l-r): presented by P. Hugentobler (Holcim Ltd) to WANG Shu and LU Wenyu

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Comment of the Holcim Awards 2005 Jury for Asia Pacific
With a compelling case made for reinterpreting the concept of harmony between human occupation and nature, this project manifests an innovative translation of a traditional house typology into a modern dwelling.

By promoting the use of indigenous materials and traditional craftsmanship, the work takes an ethically acute stance to the environment as well as its inhabitants. Successfully addressed is the need to establish dialogue between rural and urban environments.

Ecologically, the project is merited for its sensitive deployment of low-cost natural resources, reactivating the manufacture of low-tech, handmade structures, and the use of recycled materials. These factors also contribute to an economically feasible solution that could actually serve to stimulate an increase in employment and development in local communities while preserving their particular identity.

Also to be commended is the proposed combination of vernacular techniques of construction and contemporary tectonic expression, a synthesis that is aesthetically rich as well as veritably unlimited in scope of applicability.

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