Finalist – Jintao Yang
Jintao Yang from the University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning was a finalist in the 2018 NZIA Resene Student Design Awards for his project, 'Endangered Architecture'.
Project description
This project proposes the resuscitation of the last Li Village on Hainan, a tropical island off the coast of China. The Li, the indigenous people of Hainan, are dwindling in number, with the young relocating to the coast for work and those that remain relocating to homogenous developments. This study seeks to revive and restore the village through low-impact tourism and culturally, environmentally and economically sustainable ventures that will raise Li community awareness of their distinct cultural heritage.
Citation
A strong masterplan has been wrapped around the last remaining Li village in Hainan, China, within which existing boat-shaped structures and indigenous weaving traditions are the inspiration for buildings that incite former residents to return, and provide compelling reasons for culture to be preserved and extended. Through beautifully rendered and evocative images, this entirely believable project shows a way in which tradition and tourism can be carefully balanced in a mutually beneficial way.
Image gallery
