Abstract
The Dong minority communities are today, in a similar condition of many other Chinese rural settlements, deeply affected by the phenomenon of “Village Hollowing” and “Urbanization” over the last 20 years. This unprecedented exodus of rural populations to expanding urban areas, has resulted in almost vacant villages inhabited by struggling communities of mostly elderly people and children, the social and economic system has changed dramatically among Dong communities. Using the Dong Minority village of Gaobu, located along the Pingtan River in Hunan Province, China, as a pilot project, is a fully operating agricultural community with a population of over 2500 inhabitants. It has many typical architectural heritages mainly composed by 6 Drum-Towers, 2 Wind-Rain Bridges as well as other Han nationality’s buildings, a reflection of its rich cultural heritage and importance in the region. In July, 2017, a united summer workshop held in Gaobu village, was assembled and organized by school of architecture, Guangzhou University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hunan University, South China University of Technology and Polytechnic University of Milan. 56 master students, PhD students and Professors attended the workshop.The aim of the workshop is to develop an alternative and sustainable strategy to regenerate and preserve Dong Minority villages in China via architectural prototype and planning proposal, that respond to contemporary rural developments and foster minimum impact to the existing heritage of the village. Finally, a new collective and co-operative system, incorporating multiple function was offered. Meanwhile, an adaptive planning strategy that based on the needs of the community was proposed. Concentrating on the special link between dynamic heritage and villagers will provide a better rural living for the Dong community in the future.
Highlights
To discuss China's rural settlements are impossible to escape the unprecedented urban development in China
The aim of the workshop is to develop an alternative and sustainable strategy to regenerate and preserve Dong Minority villages in China via architectural prototype and planning proposal, that respond to contemporary rural developments and foster minimum impact to the existing heritage of the village
The basis for the emergence and development of rural settlements has been greatly impacted in aspects such as social mechanisms, cultural contexts and architecture technology, and some problems emerged in the process of development: The first problem is the gradual migration of rural population to urban settlements, which will result in the decline or even dilapidation of traditional settlements
Summary
To discuss China's rural settlements are impossible to escape the unprecedented urban development in China. The Dong community, like many other Chinese settlements, is under the profound influence of the "village hollowing" that is caused by the process of urbanization The migration of this unprecedented rural population into the expanding urban areas has resulted in almost vacant villages the retention of only the elderly and children. Dong people live in a mountainous area, where the landscape of rice terraces, bamboo forests, and tea plantations is still predominantly intact Their architecture is intrinsically connected with the land and the topography, generating a harmonious relationship between nature and man-made structures (Figure 1). The “clustered” centres of Dong settlements mainly are Drum Towers, including other public buildings like the Drum Tower plaza, and a drama stage. The semi-open space in this residential building forms a collective space system together with the public buildings such as Drum Tower, Wind-Rain Bridge, and Kuan Plaza
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