Rural Village School Design Workshop 2007

Introduction

Sponsored by the China US Center for Sustainable Development as a research project for the Center’s rural sustainable development initiative, Tong Ji University is commissioned to organize relevant experts to develop and execute a design workshop for the Rural Village School Project.

The purpose of this workshop is to support international design collaboration to incorporate sustainable design strategies into a prototype rural school for China, using Huangbaiyu, Nanfen District, Liaoning Province as a representative site with a specific architectural program unique to that community, climate and culture. The intention is to develop a conceptual design for a multi functional elementary school that is family friendly, climate and ecologically intelligent, cost effective and provides an opportunity for a quality education – all goals that have been prioritized by Nanfen District Education Bureau. The design approach, concepts, ecological strategies and construction guidelines from the workshop seek to support other sustainable rural school designs in China.

The Center is providing financial support and advice on this project.   Tongji University is directing the project, managing the overall work plan and executing the design workshop. Architecture students and faculty from Tongji University, Tsinghua University, the University of Virginia and the University of Oregon are participating in this workshop. The event will provide an opportunity for Chinese and U.S. architecture students, faculty and practitioners to collaboratively develop conceptual designs for a new rural village school in China, including onsite planning and design work.

　

　

Workshop Goals, Format and Deliverables

Goals

1.   Provide a conceptual design for a multifunctional village elementary school that is family friendly, climate and ecologically intelligent, and cost effective;

2. Enhance future design professionals awareness of sustainable design;

3.   Promote ecological concepts; and

4.   Test the feasibility of cross-cultural student and professional architectural services exchange.

Format and Deliverables

1.   Nanfen District Education Bureau will provide in advance of the workshop the general architectural program, including site location, boundary conditions, design scale and building functionality;

2.   Following review of the architectural program, the workshop participants will consult with the local education bureau for clarification, and conduct a survey of the local community and site for additional information;

3.   Workshop participants will confirm the architectural program and the specific design guidelines necessary to achieve that program. Additionally, the workshop faculty, advisors, and local design professionals will jointly agree upon the workshop deliverables during the site survey stage;

4.   The 15 students will be divided into 5 groups (each group with one student from the US, Tongji and Tsinghua). All groups will develop designs under the instruction of US and Chinese faculty, advisors, and local design professionals;

5.   An expert panel comprised of faculty, advisors and local design professionals will review and rank the designs;

6.   The five student groups will collaborate to revise their designs based on the expert panel review, and prepare a final design deliverable to be available to a local design institute.

　

Schedule

Date	Day	Time	Task
08/12	Sun	20:00	All workshop participants arrive at the hotel in Benxi
		20:30	Teachers meet local staff
08/13	Mon	8:00	Opening of the workshop – including recorded opening remarks from William McDonough, and live remarks from two local officials
		9:00	Lecture from the US lead delegate regarding ecological architecture in the US
		9:50	Lecture from Tsinghua University regarding ecological architecture in China with a focus on northern China
		10:40	Lecture from Tongji University regarding ecological architecture in China with a focus on southern China
		13:30	Workshop participants survey the site in Huangbaiyu
		19:00	Ming Li, Chief Engineer of the Benxi Design and Research Institute, gives a lecture on local environment & architecture features
08/14	Tue	8:00	Workshop participants have a discussion on the ecological elements in elementary school design
		13:30	Workshop participants survey the site in Huangbaiyu
		19:00	Students have an internal discussion on the first presentations
08/15	Wes	8:00	Workshop participants visit the site again or the city of Shenyang
		18:30	Workshop participants take the train to Shanghai
08/16	Thu	8:00	Each student design team prepares for the first presentation
		14:00	Each student design team gives a school eco-design concept presentation (10 min. presentation/10 min. comments)
		16:45	Workshop participants arrive in shanghai
08/17	Fri	8:00	Students setup work space and learn the logistics of the print shop
			Each student design team starts to work on the second presentation planned for Sat. afternoon
		10:00	Prof. LI, Zhengyu welcomes the participants
08/18	Sat	8:00	Student team working session
		9:30	Faculty provides direction to students
		13:30	Each student design team gives a presentation on initial design solution (15 min presentation/15 min. comments)
			Faculty presents expectations for the final design solution for Thursday afternoon, August 23
		19:30	One hour Lecture by Peter Waldman – Title to be determined
		20:30	One hour Lecture by Alison Kwok – Title to be determined
08/19	Sun	8:00	Workshop participants site visits in Shanghai
08/20	Mon	8:00	Each student design team works on the third presentation
		9:30	Faculty provides direction to students
08/21	Tue	8:00	Each student design team works on the third presentation
		9:30	Faculty provides direction to students
08/22	Wed	8:00	Each student design team works on the third presentation
		9:30	Faculty provides direction to students
08/23	Thu	11:00	Each student design team submits all the materials for the third presentation
		13:30	Third presentation (15 min presentation + 15 min. comments per group.)
		16:30	Jury provides detailed comments for each team (Recorded by Mr. Ping Zhong)
08/24	Fri	8:00	Each student design team receives the comments and writes a plan of how to improve the solution
		8:30	Jury has a discussion with each student design team on the proposed improvements
		11:00	Each student design team submits the revised plans for possible future work
		16:00	Wworkshop Closing Ceremony - Mr. Ming Li receives the final design deliverables
08/25	Sat		Workshop participants checkout of hotels

Participants

 Advisors

Mr. William A. McDonough, FAIA

 Co-Chair, Board of Councilors, China-US Center for Sustainable Development

         Founding Partner, William McDonough + Partners

         Principal and Co-Founder, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry

www.mcdonough.com

　

Prof. LI, Zhenyu

         Vice Dean of College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) Tongji University