Built to last: Re-engaging indigenous infrastructure in China’s rural development

Abstract

Driven by economic motives, current engineering-oriented rural development in China has led to the demolition of indigenous infrastructural systems with cultural, ecological and social significance. This paper focuses on Hengcha Village and its water infrastructure, using a design-oriented method to tackle two pivotal questions: What values and knowledge can be extracted and assimilated from local water infrastructure, such as that of Hengcha, and how can such indigenous knowledge enhance the future practice of water infrastructure and development? Drawing upon the insights gained from investigating the development trajectory and working mechanism of the indigenous water infrastructure in Hengcha, a series of design proposals has been developed to explore different ways of integrating indigenous water infrastructures into future development and offer alternatives to engineering-oriented methods. The findings of the research highlight the importance of considering indigenous infrastructure as both environmental and social heritage and shedding new light on a more inclusive and localized approach to water infrastructure development in rural China and beyond.