TABLE OF CONTENTS - The Professional Green Building Council

Theme B: Creating a livable, healthy and environmentally viable citiesMongolian armies at the 11 th century, the loyal prime-minister Lu Su-fu protectedthe young last emperor of the Song Dynasty both jumped to the roaring sea to savetheir dignities in a heroic battle on the Pearl River. The Lu families hided inConghua and built up the Qiangang Village. They faithfully kept record ofhistorical events and maintained their ancestral hall while waiting for the eventualrevival of the dynasty, despite the near destruction of relics in the CulturalRevolution and the temptation of modernization.With the help of the South China Technical University of Guangzhou, the Lu clanfrom overseas and the village cooperated to restore their ancestral hall in greatpride. In particular, by consciously adhering to the principles of the Venice Charterand the Nara Document on Authenticity, all traces of significant stages in history,including carved dates on timber, half-weathered paintings on walls, half corrodedstone plinths, and Cultural Revolution slogans on wall, were faithfully retained asrecord of its impressive history. Seen in that context, the restoration of theancestral hall as the first step in the ongoing reviving of the village can beunderstood as the continuation of a sustainable development effort. Thedetermination of the decedents of the righteous historic minister, ensured this placeas a rare humble example that captured the sweep of a thousand years of Chinesecultural history. This project won the Awards of Excellence in 2003 UNESCOAsia Pacific Cultural Heritage Award.584