Architecture Asia Special Issue - ARCASIA Awards for Architecture 2020

HONORABLE
MENTION
A-1
Post-Earthquake Reconstruction
Demonstration Project of
Guangming Village
Single Family
Residential Projects
Architect:
NG Yan Yung Edward
Location:
Zhaotong, China
Following a minor earthquake in August 2014, Guangming’s residents lost faith in the traditional
rammed-earth building technology. To improve the safety, quality, and dignity of the
living environment without adding a substantial environmental load, this project innovated on
the traditional rammed-earth technology using a “high science–low technology” strategy. The
use of natural resources and recycled materials minimized embodied energy and construction
costs. An appropriate passive design guaranteed low energy consumption and high indoor
environmental quality. Applying a holistic strategy, this project creatively fostered long-term,
environmentally sustainable economic and social development of poor rural areas using local
materials, technology, and labor.
JURY CITATION: The project makes use of local natural materials – rammed earth, and reconstructed
the housing destroyed by earthquake, but in an innovative way with scientific, technical
construction and calculation, which is also easy to implement for villagers. The housing
itself has good ventilation and daylighting, and provides easily-used space for the users.
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