Application of bamboo in a design–build course: Lianhuadang Farm project

Abstract

The entire process of the Lianhuadang Farm Project, that is, from early-stage investigations to the completed construction, was documented. This project is a graduate design–build course of the School of Architecture of Southeast University. Dingshu Town, Yixing, which has a long handicraft tradition in eastern China, is the project site. Students and craftsmen constructed six viewing facilities and renovated a toilet and a management building. We explored ways of using bamboo and traditional craftsmanship by analyzing the main teaching procedures and the key technical issues in the project. We also studied contemporary methods to expand the construction in real environments. Finally, the significance of bamboo construction for architectural design teaching was examined.