The Post-earthquake reconstruction/demonstration project of Guangming Village has been declared the World Building of the Year 2017 this evening at the tenth annual World Architecture Festival, held in Berlin. The scheme was designed by The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Following the Ludian earthquake in 2014, most of the local buildings in Guangming were destroyed.  This project reinvented the traditional building technology, providing villagers with a safe, economical, comfortable, and sustainable reconstruction strategy that they could afford, own, and pass on to their children.  A prototype house was built for an aged couple to validate the technology and building performance of the new system.
Post-earthquake reconstruction/demonstration project of Guangming Village by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, winner of World Building of the Year 2017. Photo credit: World Architecture Festival. The judges believed this to be an extraordinary project in terms of the scope of ambition, exemplified in the addressing of profound problems facing ordinary people. They applauded the re-use of traditional material and construction methods but with the addition of new technology – combining ancient wisdom with modern know-how.
Post-earthquake reconstruction/demonstration project of Guangming Village by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, winner of World Building of the Year 2017. Photo credit: World Architecture Festival
The judges were also impressed by the iterative r...