Rural Revitalisation Impacts in China

A research team from the School of Art Design and Architecture recently returned from their latest successful visit to SW China where they coordinate an impactful Research Network for Sustainable and Creative Villages. This work is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and a number of universities as well as professionals and practitioners in the architecture and design field in China.

Dr Yun Gao and Prof Adrian Pitts lead the Network and together with researcher Dr Alison Chang they visited two major cities to take part in different international events in November 2019.

In Nanning (capital of Guangxi) the 6th Meeting of their Network was integrated with the ASEAN (Association of South-Eastern Asian Nations) Architectural Art Forum at Guangxi Arts University. The event attracted several hundred delegates and was also streamed on the internet where it had over 150,000 hits on the first day. The associated exhibition also featured many examples of best practice that are to be incorporated into a Design Guide for rural dwelling redevelopment which was developed by the Huddersfield team. This will be published in China with the help of Chongqing Jiaotong University in the coming months.

Professor Pitts speaking in Nanning at ASEAN Forum Professor Pitts speaking in Nanning at the joint ASEAN Architecture Art Forum / 6th Symposium of the Huddersfield Research Network
Prof Pitts and Dr Gao speaking in Nanning at the ASEAN Forum Prof Pitts and Dr Gao speaking in Nanning at the joint ASEAN Architecture Art Forum / 6th Symposium of the Huddersfield Research Network
Dr Gao and Prof Pitts being interviewed for local TV in Nanning Dr Gao and and Prof Pitts being interviewed for local TV in Nanning

In Kunming (capital of Yunnan) the 7th Meeting of the Network was linked to the 4th Biennale ‘5+2’ Exhibition of Environmental Art Design hosted by long-term Huddersfield collaborators, Yunnan Arts University. The event was supported by 5 major Chinese Universities and 2 from overseas (hence the 5+2) but also attracted participation from many more. The theme of the exhibition and associated conference was ‘Diversity and Mutualism’. Staff and students from the University of Huddersfield made a number of submissions to the exhibition and four students won significant prizes. Recent MArch graduates Jack Payne, Jonathan Pateman and Celma Correia Boa all took home awards, Jack took the single top gold award in the architecture section, Jonathan won one of the five silver awards and Celma won a commendation award. PhD student Thanh Hung Dang won a commendation for his work ‘Shelters for Diversity and Collaboration’ and teaching staff from Huddersfield also won the Best Tutor Team Award for the overall quality of submissions made.

Adrian Pitts and Yun Gao with attendees of the Kunming Conference Speakers and main particpants at the 7th Symposium of the Research Network in Kunming

An exhibition featuring work from the Design Guide and other Huddersfield linked activities in China took place in January at the Huddersfield Market Hall allowing local people to get a better understanding of the project.

The Research Network and its outputs are beginning to have significant impacts in China in three spheres of influence: on architectural designers in practice; on the curriculum of students in the region; and on the collaboration between University departments spread across China. The work supports the wider goal of revitalisation of rural villages and encourages greater sustainability in outcomes.