INHERITANCE AND INNOVATION OF LOCAL RESOURCES — SQUARE OF COLLECTIVE MEMORY IN XIANNIANGXI VILLAGE

Abstract

Through local culture and customs, we can see the relationship between human beings and nature, the humanity, morality, and value, the authenticity of life, and the wisdom of local folklore. Can Architecture and the contemporary architectural practices learn from local wisdoms to develop culturally sustainable local architectural concepts and methods? What is the significance of these methods for the development of rural communities? Since 2015, Kuo Jze Yi, assistant professor from the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Shenzhen University, has continued to work in different villages in provinces such as Sichuan, Guangdong, Shandong and Henan, with research assistants, students, and local collaborators, combining teaching, research, and practical methods. In a participatory design approach, they allied with villagers and tried to use local resources to build public spaces that inherit local culture. Taking the Square of Collective Memory in Xianniangxi Village designed during 2017 and 2018 as a case study, this article examines the teaching, research, and practice outcomes of participatory design approach, and suggests methods of inheritance and innovation of local resources.

Keywords

Rural Resources / Local Wisdom / Participatory Design / Community Development / Inheritance and Innovation

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2018 Higher Education Press