Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

11month3Day, "Tracking Yunnan" - The Symposium on Traditional Architecture in Yunnan was held at Sidwell Friendship School in Washington, D.C., Kunming University of Science and Technology, and Dali Xilinyuan in the form of "online+offline" way to hold.

Discussion The purpose of the meeting is to focus on the reconstruction project of "Chinese folk houses" in the United States, to show the characteristic architectural culture of China, especially Yunnan Province, to all walks of life in the United States, and to enhance Sino-US cultural exchanges. Experts from China and the United States conducted discussions on topics such as the history and characteristics of Chinese folk architecture, the protection and inheritance of traditional Yunnan architectural culture, and the promotion of friendly exchanges between China and the United States.

The initiators of the restoration project of "Chinese Folk Houses" are Dr. John Flower and his wife. The project is to rebuild a house from Yunnan on the banks of the Xanadu River in Jefferson Township, West Virginia, USA. residential buildings. After the restoration of the residential buildings is completed, it will provide the American people, especially young people, with a space to learn about Chinese customs and folk culture.

(Image source: chinafolkhouse.org)

Na Zhongliang, an emeritus professor at the State University of New York and an expert in Chinese folk architecture: < /p>

I have studied Chinese vernacular architecture for decades. I have been to many places in China, including Yunnan, and the richness and diversity of Yunnan's folk houses are outstanding.

China Residential houses contain the Chinese people's understanding of nature, as well as the imprint of adapting to and living in harmony with nature. Architecture provides space for people to live, work, socialize and relax. We can also see the evolution of culture from various dwellings.

John ·<, director of the China Studies Center at the Sidwell Friendship School in the United States, and the initiator of the “Chinese Folk Houses” restoration project /span>Dr. Flower:

The reconstruction project of "Chinese Folk Houses" is a folk house from Yunnan, which condenses the life and culture of the local people. We hope that through it, more Americans can understand China and Chinese culture more intuitively.

中Many people from both sides of the United States provided assistance for the project. In the United States, many community residents and students have participated in the reconstruction of "Chinese folk houses". I call the restoration process the "translation" of architecture. While preserving the original character of the home, we incorporated artistic creativity and the understanding of architecture by local American craftsmen.

House It is not isolated. It is closely related to the community. The restoration of the house is also the reconstruction of the relationship. The wall can be used to separate or connect. In the process of rebuilding this folk house, everyone works together, and teamwork allows us to enhance our relationship. more closely.

Xie Fei, Deputy Director of Kunming Museum of Contemporary Art:

Special natural conditions and colorful ethnic cultures constitute the unique style of dwellings in Yunnan. For example, the mushroom houses in Hani villages together with terraced fields and water systems constitute a functional and holistic system. Bamboo and wood are widely used to build stilt-style houses in the Dai-inhabited areas to adapt to the hot and humid natural environment.

Soon Recently, Kunming Museum of Contemporary Art collaborated with institutions such as the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Kunming University of Science and Technology on the "In the Wild: Research Exhibition on Yunnan Architectural Traditions". Through a large number of materials, models, and drawings, this exhibition presents Yunnan's diverse and integrated vernacular architecture, folk wisdom of harmony between man and nature, and unique social culture. Through this exhibition, we feel the diversity of Yunnan's architectural culture even more. It is hoped that related projects will continue in the future.

Brian ·Linden, head of Dali Xilin Garden:

Architecture reflects how our ancestors adapted to and lived in harmony with their environment. Architecture also contains ideas and culture. I have always hoped to use Chinese architecture as a cultural carrier, so that travelers from all over the world can have a deeper understanding of this country.

I Starting from the renovation of Yang Pinxiang's house, he participated in the protection of traditional buildings and learned a lot of experience from it.

I It is believed that one of the key points of traditional building protection is to add vitality to these buildings, which is both innovative and balanced, and plays a positive role in the local community.

Taking Xilin Garden as an example, we insist on "renovating the old as the old", respecting the original architectural culture, and integrating the community into it. For example, open 50% of the hotel's public spaces to the community, including libraries, children's rooms, fitness centers, classrooms, etc. The villagers feel that they are part of the project and are more willing to participate in the protection of traditional culture.  

< span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:宋体;">Zhai Hui, Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Kunming University of Science and Technology:

The vernacular architecture in Yunnan embodies the Chinese philosophy of "harmony between heaven, earth and man, harmony in difference", embodying It is the harmony between man and nature, man and man, architecture, man and nature. In recent years, the protection of traditional dwellings in Yunnan has achieved good results, and people's awareness of protection has been continuously improved.

With With the improvement of people's quality of life, residential buildings are also changing, and the way of protection of residential buildings also needs to be changed. Architecture has "life", and only people have "life". For traditional buildings, while doing a good job of museum-style static protection, it is also necessary to explore how to achieve better protection through the combination of protection and utilization.

Kunming The Polytechnic University has cooperated with some foreign schools in the field of architecture. We expect to cooperate with the United States to hold an exhibition of Yunnan traditional architecture in the United States next year. In addition, we also hope to build more joint work camps with foreign schools to carry out research and practice.