Seminar Presentation - Research in Asian Architecture

‘ The Architecture Influence of the Traditional Tulou Design in Tulou Collective Housing, GuangZhou, to support the low income community. ’ Image source : bbs1.people.com.cn

Group Members : Chow Wei Qi Koh Jing Fan Lee Kai Xing Ng Jia Wei Ng Si jing Woo Kar Hui Yap Shu Won Image source : URBANUS, 2018

0331447 0330792 0331222 0326857 0326474 0326656 0331392

School of Architecture, Building and Design

Issue

Solution

Low income community Solution to support rural population in urban area Economic

Design strategies of dwellings

Social

Modern

Tulou Collective Housing

Traditional

Implementation

Fujian Tulou

AIM OF RESEARCH :

STUDY THE REINTERPRETATION OF TRADITIONAL TULOU IN MODERN TULOU COLLECTIVE HOUSING.

Research Questions 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

What are the current issues faced by the low income community in the urban context?

Why was Tulou introduced in the 12th century in China?

How did the design strategies of traditional Tulou support the economy state of the community within?

How did the spatial organisation of traditional Tulou contribute to the social connectivity within the community?

What are the characteristic derived from traditional Tulou that were implemented in modern architecture?

What can we conclude from the significance of implementing traditional design strategies into buildings today?

2. ECONOMY ASPECT 1.

IMPLEMENTATION IN MODERN TULOU

TULOU 3. SOCIAL ASPECT

IMPLEMENTATION IN MODERN TULOU

Why was Tulou introduced in the 12th century in China?

Historical and Geographical Reason

Defensive Design

Compact and Efficient Living

Sustainable Architecture

ECONOMY

MATERIAL

TOOLS

LABOUR METHOD

CONSTRUCTION

IMPLEMENTATION IN MODERN BUILDING, TULOU COLLECTIVE HOUSING

Materiality // Traditional Tulou Rammed earth materials are used as they can be easily obtained from the mountain inextricably linked to the 3 provinces which are Fujian, Guangdong and Guangzhou where tulous are mainly built at.

Reinforcement - bamboo Wooden window Earthen Wall - loess, sand, clay Wooden lintel Stone foundation

Cost effectiveness is achieved through reduction of total construction cost.

Image source : Yenkai.net. (2018)

Earth type : loess

Wood type : C. Lanceolata

Stone type : C. Lanceolata

Materiality // Traditional Tulou Main material :

Wood type : C. Lanceolata

Earth type : loess

Stone

type : peddle,granite

1.

Easily obtained (reduced total construction cost)

2.

Excavation process do not destroy cultivated land

3.

Materials can be reused as crop fertiliser after building is demolished

Image source : Unesco, “Fujian Tulou�

Diagram showing Yong Ding Hong Keng Tulou cluster indicating location of tulou in between Mountain Bijiadong, Mountain Dapingding and Mountain Quhanxia which is rich in tulou building material.

Materiality // Traditional Tulou

Tools & Labour Methods// Traditional Tulou Labour Methods

Tools ‘Bamboo rib’

Hakka Community

Fujian Community

‘Wall mold’ ‘Plumb’

‘Chong chu’

‘Pai Pan’‘Shovel’ ‘Shovel’

Construction and transportation of materials done among clansman from Hakka and Fujian community voluntary.

‘Dustpan’

Construction tools used in constructing Tulou are made from natural elements and does not requires special machine. Hence, it is cost effective.

Construction time set in between non-cropping season to increase amount of clansman.

Construction Process // Traditional Tulou

Excavation

Decoration

Foundation

Roof

Wall

Skeletal frame

Tools and labour Methods // Tulou Collective Housing Labour Methods

Tools

Earthmoving equipment

Bulldozer

Concrete mixer

Crane

Loader

Construction and transportation work mostly done by workers without any experience as it is completed by machines controlled by the workers.

Materiality // Tulou Collective Housing Tulou Collective Housing uses reinforced concrete frame structure with prefabricated concrete panels as external screen.

Conventional as materials are locally available, thus reduced transportation and construction.

Image source : archnet.org (2018)

Ceramic Tiles

Reinforced Concrete Structure

Concrete Eggcrate

Wooden Screen Panel

Type of structures

Price per ft2

Reinforced concrete

$394/ft2

Steel

$890/ft2

Table Comparison of price of reinforced concrete vs steel (Y. Yang, Albert P.C. Chan, 2018)

Materiality // Tulou Collective Housing

Image source : Yenkai.net. (2018).

Image source : archnet.org (2018)

TRADITIONAL TULOU (Earth material)

TULOU COLLECTIVE HOUSING (Concrete)

Low construction cost 1. Easily obtained 2. No need skilled worker 3. Slow construction time

Low construction cost 1. Easily obtained 2. No need skilled worker 3. Quick construction time

CONCLUSION // ECONOMY Both eras have the same objective to utilise low cost materials and construction methods. Tulou Collective housing is in the position to keep up with the rapid advancement in China. Therefore, the choice of materials differ from the ones used in the 12th-20th century to fit in the modern context and also due to the lack of availability of natural resources in close range. The construction technologies have also benefit the reduction of overall cost while the traditional Tulou’s construction was voluntarily completed by the Hakka and Fujian community themselves. Hence, we can conclude that cost efficiency have always been the main consideration when constructing dwellings.

Social SOCIAL

Site Context

Image source : ychinatours.com (2018)

Aerial view of Hong Keng village showing various Tulous of different sizes clustered around.

Image source : ArchDaily.com (2018)

Aerial view of Tulou Collective Housing site showing the modern advancement of Guangzhou.

Porosity The traditional tulou have achieved an overall sense of security for the entire community through these strategies.

The Tulou Collective Housing has a more open approach to connect the outer community while keeping interaction within.

Porous outer structure

Sturdy Outer Structure Diagram source : Rondal, 2004

Image source : baidu.com Diagram source : archnet.org

More entrances

One Main Entrance

Primary Circulation Secondary Circulation Tertiary Circulation

Main Entrance Diagram source : Rondal, 2004

Diagram source : academia.edu

Porosity

Windows only on Upper Levels

Diagram source : Rondal, 2004

Rectangular block as internal linkage

Diagram source : academia.edu

Social equality & communal connectivity

// Traditional Tulou

Communal Spaces gathered on the ground level Sense of egalitarianism arise through division of the tulou in vertical sections between immediate families.

Interactive spaces Central courtyard and ancestral hall Diagram source : Rondal, 2004

Social equality & communal connectivity// Tulou Collective Housing

Unlike open courtyard in traditional tulou, Tulou Collective Housing has rectangular block at the center of circular block which disrupts the visual connectivity within the community.

First floor to sixth floor Apartment

Ground floor Inn, central courtyard, restaurant, shops

Diagram source : academia.edu

Modern tulou encourages communal living by recreating public spaces inside the building. However, it differ from the traditional one as it provides intimate courtyards which located on top floor, hence it provides more privacy for the community.

Private Space

Basement Library, bicycle parking, computer room, fitness, billiard, Diagram source : archnet.org

Public Space

Social Homogeneity

Image source : ac.els-cdn.com

Diagram source : confuciusmag.com

Hakka earthen buildings designed according the Eight Trigrams ‘Bagua’, built on mountain while fully reflecting the coordination between man and nature.

Residents in Tulou Collective Housing are mostly migrants that originate from different rural areas in China. Therefore, the appearance of the building is more cultural-friendly to allow easier adaptation for the migrants in the urban area.

Conclusion // Social The concept of ‘closed outside, open inside’ utilised in the traditional Tulou which strengthens the community spirit has well integrated into modern tulou . Equality in social status and cultural beliefs allow them to eliminate thoughts of superiority to ease communication among each other. This mentality is the core approach that is kept until today especially shown in the Tulou Collective Housing that accommodates migrants with low social status that are often secluded by society.

Hence, modern dwellings which integrates the low income community spirit is essential.

References Books : 1.

Knapp, R., Spence, J., & Ong, A. (2012). Chinese Houses. New York: Tuttle Publishing.

Internet : 1.

Ya Ping Wang (2005) Low-Income Communities and Urban Poverty in China, Urban Geography, 26:3, 222-242, 2.

Stefanova, K. (2017, December 19). China's Rising Wealth Gap And Implications To Markets And The World. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/katinastefanova/2017/12/19/chinas-rising-wealth-gap-and-implications-to-markets-and-th e-world/#2061c23a4231 3.

Amadeo, K. (n.d.). It's Good That China's Growth Is Slowing. Really. Retrieved from https://www.thebalance.com/china-s-economic-growth-cause-pros-cons-future-3305478 4.

Centre, U. W. (n.d.). Fujian Tulou. Retrieved from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1113/ 5.

Building materials of Tulou. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.qtulou.com/2014/03/8122.html 6.

What is the building materials of tulou. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.tulou123.com/tulouzhizui/337.html 7.

Yap, P. (2017). World Heritage Site: Fujian Tulou – Global Heritage. Retrieved from https://thinkglobalheritage.wordpress.com/2017/11/29/world-heritage-site-fujian-tulou/ 8.

5.Haagen, S., Herzog, A., Hwee, T., Ramel, K., & Thomsen, M. (2014). Dwelling Typologies. Presentation.

9.

Knap, R. G. (2004). Chinese Houses : The Architectural Heritage of a Nation. Tuttle Publishing.

10.

Fujian Tulou (Earthen Structure). (2018). Retrieved from https://www.asiaculturaltravel.co.uk/fujian-tulou-earthen-structure/ 11.

The Hakka Tulou : World Heritage treasures. (2013). Readers Club Confucius Institute, (29). Retrieved from http://confuciusmag.com/hakka-tulou

References Internet : 12.

Wang, S., Li, S., & Liao, S. (2012). The Genes of Tulou : A Study on the Preservation and Sustainable Development of Tulou.

Sustainability, 4(2071-1050). doi: 10.3390/su4123377 13.

Trends in Life Sciences. (2014). Effective Factors In Promoting Social Interactions Between Residents In Residential Complexes (pp. 105-108). DAMA International. Retrieved from http://sciencejournal.in/data/documents/13_1.pdf 14.

Hart, K. (2018). Tulou Chinese Architecture. Retrieved from http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/tulou.htm 15.

Knapp, R., Spence, J., & Ong, A. (2012). Chinese Houses. New York: Tuttle Publishing.

16.

Liang, R., Stanislawski, D., & Hota, G. (2018). Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f3a6/eb6ee1d5d68fa5fdb4be30ebdb7b8adb814b.pdf

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