Heritage and Tradition: Innovating for a Sustainable Future

Winners from China and Mongolia feature in second Holcim Awards Webinar

Heritage and Tradition

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Holcim Awards Webinar #2 SoMe

Find out about how sustainable design uses the vernacular to restore structures in China and to upgrade housing in Mongolia.
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The second Holcim Awards Webinar asks what our architectural past imparts to the future? Find out about how sustainable design uses the vernacular to restore structures in China and to upgrade housing in Mongolia.

Last updated: February 13, 2024

Reusing heritage structures to create new value for the present

History offers artifacts that manifest our memories, identities and world views. Retaining, retrofitting and reusing heritage structures extends their life and also, importantly, it provides us social and emotional anchors. Here, the question asked is what to retain and how much to transform so the old creates new value for the present.

Holcim Awards 2023 Gold for Asia Pacific - Fujian Tulou

Fujian Tulou in China won the Holcim Awards 2023 Gold for Asia Pacific advocates for a re-evaluation of the significance of existing vernacular structures, favoring repurposing over demolition.

Integrating the old and the new

On the other hand, history also shows us how to build. This includes construction know-how, locally-sourced materials, and climate-responsive design strategies. The tradition-inspired approach leads to low-impact solutions that can enhance community life and livelihood. Here, the question is how to integrate the new with the old, to make solutions suited to contemporary living.

Holcim Awards 2023

The winner of the Holcim Awards 2023 Silver for Asia Pacific proposes an energy efficient house extension prototype that provides the traditional ger houses with sanitary infrastructure such as a toilet, shower, septic tank, and electric heating system.