Preservation and rehabilitation of Gaodang Buyi mountain village // SHANCUN Atelier, School of Architecture, Tsinghua Univiersity

Text description provided by the architects.

This project was completed by SHANCUN Atelier from School of Architecture of Tsinghua Univiersity, and was collaborated by Anshun Architectural Design Institute.
Gaodang, a Buyi village existed for nearly a thousand years, is located in the center area of Guizhou Province in the southeast of China.
And it is a mountain village with inconvenience traffic, but preserving outstanding culture of the Buyi ethnic group and unique regional characteristics completely.

© SHANCUN Atelier, School of Architecture, Tsinghua Univiersity

In recent years, Gaodang Village has faced problems including ecological degradation, disorderly construction, degradation of housing quality, especially the young going out and the built heritage being forgotten，leading to economy and society hollowing, and weakening of community cohesion.
In response to the challenges, the team has been working on a preservation and rehabilitation plan since 2015, and implementing it in stages with the process of “Cooperation-Launch-Voting-Sharing”in the community.

© SHANCUN Atelier, School of Architecture, Tsinghua Univiersity

With the collaboration of local villagers, craftsmen, designing institute and the support of village committee, relevant government departments and sponsor groups, this project mainly focuses on the following aspects:
(1) On the Mountain: the preservation and revitalization of forgotten heritage are implemented to strengthen community cohesion.
(2) In the Village: regeneration of existing square and dwellings are implemented to realize a good life.

© SHANCUN Atelier, School of Architecture, Tsinghua Univiersity

(3) Commemorative Trail: the connection of the heritage and the village, routine and legend, and the present and the past.
Benefiting from 7 years of continuous community work, the consensus about the heritage and aesthetic value are reached with villagers, and indigenous knowledge, local materials, and craftsmen are respected and applied.

© SHANCUN Atelier, School of Architecture, Tsinghua Univiersity

And the whole community is now inspired and united by the restoration and reuse of the built heritage.
And based on multilateral consultation and joint creation by all the stakeholders, Gaodang has achieved sustainable development in ecology, economy, culture, and other fields, and is now on the way to rural revitalization..

© SHANCUN Atelier, School of Architecture, Tsinghua Univiersity

Preservation and rehabilitation of Gaodang Buyi mountain village Gallery