Tagharma Library: A Student/ Architect's Journey and Design

XIAO YIN

TAGHARMA LIBRARY A STUDENT/ ARCHITECT’S JOURNEY AND DESIGN IN A TAJIK VILLAGE

XIAO YIN PUBLISHER

XIAO YIN

TAGHARMA LIBRARY A STUDENT/ ARCHITECT’S JOURNEY AND DESIGN IN A TAJIK VILLAGE

XIAO YIN PUBLISHER

Contents

Preface

MY JOURNEY AND DESIGN

3

Geography

AMONG THE MOUNTAINS

7

People

A CHARMING MINORITY

Design

BEYOND THE WALL

103

Experiment

BUILD ON EARTH

159

Construction

SURPRISE AND PITY

187

Completion

A WISHFUL GIFT

225

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1

Preface: My Journey And Design

MY JOURNEY AND DESIGN

Tagharma Village is embraced by mountains, which illustrate the boundary of the Tajiks’ world and seperate them from outside. By Juliet Landler

While the kid builds the toy, the toy builds the kid.

I find this American advertisement in the 1960s fits my story of Tagharma Village Primary School Library perfectly well. Naive as a third year college student at that time, I was a lucky dog to win an opportunity to really build this small 3,000 square feet library through a competition. Also, being an urban guy raised in Beijing, I had never even heard of the village before, which is on the very west point of China, about 2,100 miles away from my hometown. To be honest, I was equally excited about the travel and the construction.

The outcome of my design is predictable: I would not consider it as a well-done piece of architecture. However, I would say that the visiting, learning and volunteering experience in this unique world is something that worth sharing.

The story began when the idea of donating a library to the only

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Preface: My Journey And Design

elementary school in Tagharma Village through student competition was initiated by Swire Beverage and RMJM Architects in 2006. In the following two years, I developed my winning entry with the help from RMJM Architects and local design institute. In the fall of 2008, the construction started, and because of the freezing climate in winter, it was not finished until a year later in 2009.

This book is not all about architecture. It begins with my observation of the context and the people, which I believe are the true stage and the actors of this “play”. Then it follows by my naive but enthusiastic approaches. Other entries in the competition are also included to provide a wider perspective. Photos from the construction site and finished building were presented in the end. The whole story is about getting to know a group of people, trying understand them, and hopefully, leaving them a good gift after three years’ work.

The almost-finished library under Muztagh, one of the God Mountains for the Tajiks, in the fall of 2009. By Iris Fung

Geography: Among The Mountains

AMONG THE MOUNTAINS

On the road to Tagharma Village, there is a scatter of ‘red mountains’. The iron contained in the rocks makes them look red. By Xiao Yin

Tagharma village is in Xinjiang Uigur Municipal, China. It is hidden in a valley with high and endless mountains on both sides, illustrating the edges of its world. In fact, going beyond the moutains, one will be in another country, like Tajikistan or Afghanistan. Even by today’s transportation tools, it still take two days to get there from Beijing: a six hours’ conncecting flight to Kashgar, the largest nearby city on the first day and another six hours’ drive from Kashgar to Tagharma on the second day. It is almost the longest distance one can travel within the border of China.

The road from Kashgar to Tagharma is particularly worth driving, where one can enjoy the dynamic landscapes: the scaterring mud houses fade into wildness, a group of redish and yellowish mountains come into eyes. After the colorful moutain prelude, the road begins winding among higher mountains with snow caps. The highest two,

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Geography: Among The Mountains

the Kongur (25,300 ft) and the Muztagh (24,700 ft), are worshiped as two God Mountains and protectors of the Tajiks. The alpine glacier melts in the summer, the water rushs down the valleys and roars loudly. Tracing the water upwards, a peaceful blue lake is lying on the feet of the moutains. The grassland by the lake extends now and then along the road until the village is reached.

Although Tagharma Village shares the same latitude with San Francisco, it is cold and windy because of the 12,000 ft altitude. In winter, the snow will stay for four months and the outside temperature drops below minus twenty degrees Fahrenheit. In summer the solar radiation is remarkably strong. As a result, it can be hot enough to wear T- shirt at noon but quite chilly as the sun hides behind the mountains. Thanks to the glacier water, the village is wet and green enough for the Tajiks and their cattle to survive.

Map of the road from Kashgar to Tagharma. The village is even closer to Tajikistan and Afghanistan than Kashgar. By Xiao Yin On the way from Kashgar to Tagharma. The landscape changes dramatically as the road unfolds itself in front of us. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The city of Kashgar is our base camp, in Uigur's word, the name means 'variegated houses'.

Xiao Yin

The traditional earth and brick residence context in the city of Kashgar is now inserted with new modern architecture. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Modern buildings of Bank of China in the People’s Square, the central public space of the city. By Guang Yang

Geography: Among The Mountains

An old winding street in a traditional residence area. The houses are constructed by mud and bricks. By Juliet Landler

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Geography: Among The Mountains

A new shopping center is under construction.

The building has some traditional elements on the facade. By Guang Yang

Geography: Among The Mountains

Old houses are demolished one after another because of safety issues, but the true incentive is real estate development. By Iris Fung

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

We started our journey from the old city of Kashgar to Tagharma Village. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

A group of earth houses in the suburban area of Kashgar and a homeless donkey wandering in the wild. By Guang Yang

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The red mountains and the aspens and Chinese willows that are adapted to grow in the dry, cold and windy environment. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Even the nearby village is made of red earth, which gives a unique flavor to the architecture.

By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Military vehicles are seen now and then in this border area. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

Trucks carry all kinds of supply to the remote villages along the road. By Juliet Landler

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The altitude rises after passing the border check, snow mountains come into view. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Why do you want to climb (Mount Everest) ?

Because it is there.

George Mallory

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Snow mountain on the road. By Xiao Yin

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Geography: Among The Mountains

An alpine lake with sandy mountains in the background, the sandy mountains are rarely see on the road. By Xiao Yin

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The alpine grass land in the summer, it expands now and then in the valley where is wet and warm. By Xiao Yin

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Geography: Among The Mountains

I heard a wild flower Singing a song William Blake

The wild summer flowers on the alpine grassland.

By Xiao Yin

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The “modern� tents on the grass land to attract tourists. By Xiao Yin

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The traditional tents wrapped with thick wool blankets. The top of which are opened like a sky light. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The remnant of an ancient Tajik’s castle. It has been standing there on its stone and rammed earth walls for 1300 years. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The sign of Tagharma Village on the road in both Chinese and Uigur. The Tajiks do not have written languagne By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

The new houses on one side of the road. By Xiao Yin

Geography: Among The Mountains

The traditional cemetery on the other side of the road. By Xiao Yin

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Once a conscious break through to a second center is made, a life-long perspective is formed and the collection can begin.

Donald Batchelder

The road connecting the village to the outside is shaded with tress like a tunnel. By Guang Yang

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Mud and earth houses in Tagharma Village. By Juliet Landler

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Tagharma Village Primary School, where the library was going to be built. By Juliet Landler

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Never be too poor to afford education.

Never be too tough to have students.

Chinese Education Slogan

The school “bell� and the kitchen. The hardwares in the school were mostly out dated or in bad shape because of poverty. By Guang Yang

Geography: Among The Mountains

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Geography: Among The Mountains

Televations are being installed to the classrooms.

Local government is promoting remote education because of limited teachers. By Juliet Landler

Geography: Among The Mountains

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People: A Charming Minority

A CHARMING MINORITY

A overall photo of a Tajik family in the village, they were excited and nervous to be in a photo as a family for the first time. By Juliet Landler

The major residence in Tagharma Village is a group of nomadic minority called the “Tajiks”. The word “Tajik” in their own language means “the crown”. In fact, the Tajiks value their hats very much.

Both men and women wear beautiful hats all day long as if they were having real crowns on their heads.

Now there are only fouty thousands of Tajiks in China comparing to a whole population of nearly one billion four hundred million.

Most of them live in a mountainous area where Tagharma Village is located. They used to drive their cattle up to the highlands and down to the valleys along with seasons, and they consider horses, donkeys and sheep as family members and the measurement of wealth. The tradition didn’t allow them to beat, sell or even shout at cattles. Now they are more settled down in villages, but still keep a certain amount of cattle as labors, transportation tools and tourism attractions.

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People: A Charming Minority

The Tajiks consider themselves as descendants of eagle, the noble animal in their fairytales. Indeed they are noble, peaceful and artistic people. Almost every Tajik is a good dancer, and the famous folk dance was called “the Eagle Dance”, which is a two dancers’ duet mimicking the flying gestures of real eagles. Even the instrument for accompaniment is a piccolo made from eagle bone.

The Tajiks stay together in big families, which is a tradition passed down from the nomadic era. They are very quite and polite, never fight and curse. They kiss to greet each other, which is rarely seen among Chinese. Now as more and more visitors come into their world, they also begin to explore the outside. Some young people find their own culture out-dated and want to marry the Han people, the majority and begin a more modern life, while others are struggling to preserve their traditional legacies.

The Tajik’s Eagle Dance on the grassland. By Asghar Khan

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

While they were in style, Each hat was worn with pride.

Carol Gioia

Tajik girls in their beautiful traditional hats. By Juliet Landler

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

The guys tend to wear some modern ones. By Guang Yang

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

Two generations of skilled horse riders. By Juliet Landler

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People: A Charming Minority

The villagers are playing a polo-like game, passing the “ball”, which is a sheep fur and trying to shoot the opposite’s goal. By Juliet Landler

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People: A Charming Minority

The “ball� after a severe battle. By Juliet Landler

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

Cattle dung is collected as fuel, a clean, smelless and environmental friendly kind of energy. By Juliet Landler

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

Two hostesses of a Tajik family offered a traditional lunch, which includes pies, yogurt and a mixer of butter and flour. By Guang Yang

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

A young guy is baking pies and sell them to his neighbors and the tourists. This crispy food is baked in a special owen. By Xiao Yin

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

Two ways of kissing hand greetings between same generation and different generations. Internet sources

People: A Charming Minority

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People: A Charming Minority

Old and young Tajiks. Internet sources

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People: A Charming Minority

If I am wealthy enough, I want to study in Beijing, and maybe find a girlfriend there.

Amardin

My translator, Amardin, a “modern� Tajik who speaks Tajik, Mandarin and even a little English.

By Xiao Yin

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People: A Charming Minority

A boy in the Tagharma Primary School, he did not understand us, but he smiled. By Guang Yang

People: A Charming Minority

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A girl in the Tagharma Primary School. By Guang Yang

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Students were waiting to enter the classroom. By Guang Yang

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People: A Charming Minority

Tajik boys were playing some Kung Fu. By Guang Yang

Design: Beyond The Wall

BEYOND THE WALL

The model of Tagharma Library which helps me win the competition. By Xiao Yin

My first impression of the site was the thick wall that seperated it from the outside. The wall reminded me of a jail. Personally, I was very nervous about going to primary school, and I persumed there are quite a lot of kids share the same emotions. The thick and tall wall enhanced this bad feelings about the school because one cannot see the village and the beautiful mountains.

In addition, there was no library in the village before. I thought it would be a pity if the library serves only the school instead of the entire community. Now there are many adults out there who did not have chances to go to school and want to be educated. The library can be a good resource keep thems linked and updated with the outside world. I also believed security is not a big issue in sharing the library: the villagers know each others’ kids well; they are friendly and there was not criminal records in history.

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Design: Beyond The Wall

As for the two reasons above, I decided to remove a piece of existing wall and open the entire library to the outside. That is the idea of “Beyond The Wall�, which is like an acupuncture in the conjunction between the school and the village to stimulate interactions and broadcast knowledges.

On the other hand, I was very interested in the thickness of the wall. Local houses usually have thick walls made of earth, gravel and mud. They are good thermal masses keep the interior from over-heat in the noon by storing it for the chilly night. Besides, the deep window reveals block the strong sun light washing down from top and allow it to come in at low angles. I saw opportunities of playing with light by thick walls, like Ronchamp, which may add some spice to the library and make it more adorable to the kids. Then the thick wall became the main language in shaping the spaces.

The thick wall that embraces the school and seperates it from outside. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

I was trying to learn more from vernacular buildings other than the thick wall, such as the sunken courtyard, inhabitable roof and the ventilation tower. The sunken courtyard is a space for public events, where the dancing talents of the Tajiks can be expressed. The inhabitable roof offers a new playgroud for the kids, on which they can see outside. The idea is to respect locality in tems of both construction skills and architectural language but also be critical about them.

The library competition had about ninty entries in the first round and eight finalists in the third round. I think it will be more comprehensive and objective to include other entries in the book, which also inspired me a lot in the following phases. Most entries tried to provide answers or solutions to the extreme climate, limited resources and contruction skills, building traditions and defination of a library in Tagharma. However, the outcomes were distinctive. (next p.124)

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Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

The site plan of the Tagharma Library in the competition stage. The library space comes out of the school wall and opens to the village. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

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10m

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"Beyond the wall" is not only about the physical wall, but also about the "wall" that seperates the Tajiks from knowledge and the outside world.

Xiao Yin

A new school gate is also integrated into the wall series. By Xiao Yin

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Design: Beyond The Wall

The finalist “Sensory Experience� creates an interesting stepping-up and down experience from the school to the library. By Jing Luo and Jieyu Pu

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

The finalist “Ribbon on the Silkroad� arrays a series of variable stone arches to organize the space. By Yeguo Li and Fanli Meng

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

This entry studies the construction of the vernacular stone wall and plays with the interior lighting. By Hua Li and Wenjun Zhou

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

This entry has several coutyards that are inserted into the library space. It also has a ventilation tower like I had. By Yihong Deng and Li Ma

Design: Beyond The Wall

This entry is characterized with an iconic, postmodernism “Tagharma Wall� and a simple grid system. By Wenhao Sun and Dan Zhang

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(previous p.107) The excitement of winning did not last for long.

When it came to a real thing, every inch has to be seriously thought about. The first thing I did was to simplify the wall lanuage with the help of Andy Wen and Juliet Landler from RMJM Architects. It was almost like starting over. But I had more time to look closely at the geometry and function of each piece of wall. The interesting donkey trough was invented at this phase.

After the first site visit, the demensions, materials were modified according to local consultants. There was one time even my entire design was completed changed, when I was obsessed with ecological performances. It took several months for me to get back to track again, during which I think I should have been laid off by the client in retrospect. The final modification was about very pratical issues, such as budget and security. (next p.151)

Evolutions of the library design through out two years from 2006 to 2008 before the final one for construction. By Xiao Yin

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Donkeys to the Tajiks are like cars to us, so we have to provide them "parking lots" if we invite them here.

Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

The sketch shows the donkey trough idea. By Xiao Yin

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In the summer nights, villagers will get together on the roof and enjoy movies.

Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

The sketch shows the movie wall idea. By Xiao Yin

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Design: Beyond The Wall

The sketch shows the sunken courtyard. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

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The library should be very experimental, or even a little "dirty".

Andy Wen

A very “experimental� skim that has donkeys outside the library, sheep on the roof, vegetation on the wall. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Facade study shows alternative option for the windows. By Xiao Yin

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Design: Beyond The Wall

The sketch suggests some modifications on the section concerning natural lighting and ventilation. By Juliet Landler

Design: Beyond The Wall

May 3rd, 2007 From: Juliet Landler To: Xiao Yin Re: Tagharma Sections

Xiao, I do still have serious concerns that there will not be enough sunlight getting into the building to heat all that thermal mass up. You should consider reducing the length of the cantilever over the entry and I recommend moving the glass wall further out generally.

Perhaps with the door entry, you would consider adding a second door as an air lock.

Also while I like the aesthetics of the wind tower, we need to make sure it does not just bring cold air inside during the cooler seasons (most of the time). Should it not be the chimney for sealed stove system? Also will it shade the southeast facade during hours when it is important to gain solar heat?

Thanks!

Juliet

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May 4th, 2007 From: Xiao Yin To: Juliet Landler Re: Tagharma Sections

Dear Juliet, Please find the interior lighting study and the possible section for the tower/chimney.

The tower is moved to the north side so that more light can come in from the east facade in the morning. In the noon you can see from the study that the direct sun light is blocked and there is not much glare in the reading area.

The tower can be a stack effect ventilation tower. However, I am a little worried about the buildability. Please let me know what do you think of it.

Kind Regards Xiao Interior lighting environment study and the tower section sketch. By Xiao Yin

7:00 am

10:00 am

4:00 pm

7:00 pm

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Site survey with Juliet Landler and the survey sketch. By Iris Fung

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

July 22nd, 2007 Tagharma Library Meeting Attendees: Mr.Song, Director of Kashgard Design Institute Mr.Tang, Director of Tashkurgan Construction Bureau Mr. Li, Project Manager of Tagharma Library Mr.Yin, Architect of Tagharma Library

Structure system: We agreed on adapting reinforced concrete frame filled with perliteconcrete bricks. It’s recorded that that brick performed well during the earthquake.

Mr.Yin referred to the shallow insulated footings. Mr. Tang said that -1.80m was the average frozen depth in winter and the deepest can be -2.20m. It is not a good idea to have shallow footings above the frozen line. The deeper and cheaper option would be single standing footings connected with ground girders.

To take into count the frequent earth quakes in Tagharma, Yin recommended to use flexible foundation, which has a flexible joint between the framework and the footings to relief part of the lateral forces during earthquakes. However, it will raise the budget for foundation by 20%. The client need to confirm on that.

Single footing foundation detail in the meeting minutes. By Xiao Yin

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January 25th, 2008 From: Xiao Yin To: Juliet Landler, Iris Fung, Ningsheng Li Re: A New Approach

Dear Team, Please take a look at this new approach according to our concerns about natural lighting, thermal performance and budget. I think this one has the following merits: 1.Facing the large glazing to the south to gain more light. Placing the stone walls as thermal mass close to the shopfront to absorb and store heat.

2.Reducing average height above ground from 7.00m to 5.00m and getting rid of the 13.00m tower to make the building firmer against frequent earthquakes. The reduction also helps to cut the budget.

3.Introducing skylights from the top of the roof for the second floor. However, the roof becomes less interesting than the previous one.

Xiao

A new approach of the library, that is where I was interested in having a solar house and began to go a little off track. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Design: Beyond The Wall

Ground level plan and interior of the new approach. The sun comes in through big windows and heats up the stone mass By Xiao Yin

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A sketch which is developed into the final skim.

By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

(previous p.124) The original “thick wall language” was kept but simplified. Since the school had painted all its wall white, I also changed the color accordingly. More windows with colorful reveals were put onto the walls. The tower was moved from the south side to the north side. The fancy roof vegetation and courtyard were replaced with simpler ones. The porch was also removed.

In a way the final skim looked quite similar to the initial skim.

Admittedly, I took a very winding path, on which I struggled a lot, to get to a destination that seemingly straightforward. However, what I learn from this naive and nerdy process is to see the boundary of each alternatives and the limits of local construction. The client was also very supportive and reasonale, so that I could “waste” some time and budget in tasting those options. After that, I felt comfortable about all the decisions and ready to push them foward.

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Site plan of the final skim. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Birdeye view of the final skim. By Xiao Yin

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Interior and section. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

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Design: Beyond The Wall

Second level plan. By Xiao Yin

Design: Beyond The Wall

Ground level plan. By Xiao Yin

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Experiment: Build On Earth

BUILD ON EARTH

The mock-up shelter in completion in the back yard of my school. It includes a rammed earth wall, a bottle wall and a bottle roof. By Xiao Yin

The original idea for the material of the thick wall of the library is rammed earth. The good thing about this traditional construction is that all its materials come from nature, and can be broken up and returned to nature harmlessly. It is a perfect thermal mass. What I also like the skin-like finishes, which I believe is something friendly to the kids to touch or lean on.

However, there are many uncertainties about its quality, which is not well experiemented and documented, so I have to get the hands dirty myself to understand the construction and the performance of this material. I did a mock-up wall with the generous help from two friends in the back yard of my school. To add some fun and new possibilities, we also experimented what recycled water bottles can be used in construction, so besides the earth wall, we had a bottle wall and a bottle roof.

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We spent about two months being both designers, material collectors and part-time construction workers. Doing rammed earth is a good way to build muscle. The traditional way of doing rammed earth is to put a mixer of wet earth, gravel, lime and straw into a wooden mold, and then ram it firmly with a wooden hammer. Our experiments focused on two major factors that affect the quality of the wall: the percentage of each components in the mixer and the raming ratio, which is how tight the mixer is put together. We used modern concrete mold instead of the wooden one. We also tested making opennings on the wall. The final piece of junk was not one of the best-looking walls in the world, but it provided enough infomation.

Unfortunately, the rammed earth wall was not used in the final construction because of the safety concerns in the seismic area, but I think this interesting and “dirty� experience should be recorded.

I was ramming the first piece of wall at night, making a lot of noise. By Wenao Liu

Experiment: Build On Earth

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Experiment summary sheet. We did four times of test and recorded the composition and the construction problems. By Xiao Yin

Experiment: Build On Earth

PROCESS AND COMPONENTS OF RAMMED EARTH EXPERIMENT 2ND

1ST

3RD

FINAL

MATERIALS

45.8%

43.5kg

43.2%▼

41.0kg

54.1%▲

154.0kg

55.0%

104.4kg

Earth

32.1%

30.5kg

25.3%▼

24.0kg

/

/

8.9%

17.0kg

Gravel

10.0%

9.5kg

10.0%

9.5kg

10.0%

27.5kg

10.0%

19.0kg

Sand

7.9%

7.5kg

14.2%▲

13.5kg

30.0%▲

85.5kg

20.0%

38.0kg

White Lime

2.1%

2.0kg

2.6%▲

2.5kg

2.6%

7.5kg

2.6%

4.9kg

Straw

2.1%

2.0kg

4.7%▲

4.5kg

3.5%▼

10.0kg

3.5%

6.7kg

• Gravel was easy to fall off when dried because of its high portion • Crack happened a lot due to lacking of water • Fill in by 25-27cm, get 14-15cm after ramming, ratio=44%

• Reduce gravel while add lime and water • Too much water to ram • No crack because of surficient water and white lime • Water percentage=3~4% • Straw should be placed in the corner

• No gravel is okay but not as well as the former one • Proper water percentage • Nice surface with beautiful dots • Add plastic layer between the mold and the earth • Use bricks to sustain when ramming the openning

• Put a layer of straw inbeteween each 200mm • Proper component percentage • Use triangle metal frame • Use PVC pipe for holes on the wall

Water

SUMMARY

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Experiment: Build On Earth

Experiment: Build On Earth

The first round test was exciting but not very successful, a lot cracks happend on the wall because of dryness. By Wenao Liu, Xiao Yin

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Experiment: Build On Earth

The second round test had beautiful surface, but the corner collapsed for lacking of reinforcement.

By Wenao Liu, Xiao Yin

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A sketch studying the openning on the wall. By Xiao Yin

Experiment: Build On Earth

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Experiment: Build On Earth

The third round test had an openning sustained by bricks during ramming. By Wenao Liu, Xiao Yin

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Experiment: Build On Earth

The final round test had more opennings in triangle and circle shapes. By Wenao Liu, Xiao Yin

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Each bit of mud, and stick and stone Is blood and muscle, skin and bone Jane Yolen

Finish of the rammed earth. By Xiao Yin

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Experiment: Build On Earth

The mold study for the color bottle brick. By Wenao Liu, Xiao Yin

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Experiment: Build On Earth

The wall allows light to come in through the inserted bottles. By Wenao Liu, Xiao Yin

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Experiment: Build On Earth

The roof is made of recycled water bottles as compression trusses. By Wenao Liu

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The overall mock-up. By Xiao Yin

Experiment: Build On Earth

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Construction: Surprises And Pities

SURPRISE AND PITY

Ground breaking of Tagharma Library. By Juliet Landler

Construction in Tagharma village is not an easy task to achieve.

The high altitude, cold climate and the far away location from cities are natural conundrums. Everything became expensive and difficult.

For example, a piece of brick costs 5 cents in Kashgar, but when it comes to Tagharma, it costs 12 cents because of transportation. The construction workers asked for a higher salary to work in high altitude. The freezing climate in winter paused construction from late September to the next April. The long travel also made frequent construction administration impossible.

Another problem is language, the client and consultants use English in Hongkong, the Kashgar Design Institutes, which is the architect-in-record uses Mandarin, but the construction workers and the school people only speak Tajik. It was fun to see languages being translated from one to another in a meeting or on site, but a lot

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of infomation was lost at the same time. Luckily the Tajik workers have architectural and artistic talents, they did work clean and carefully, sometimes beyond my expectations. I was astonished to see the mosaic-like ground tiling in the sunken courtyard. I think I can never draw that on my stupid screen.

There were surprises, and there were pities. Original I left one meter between each roof slab for skylight, but I didn’t expect the beam went reversed and took almost half a meter, which made the interior darker than supposed. The wall between the school and the sunken courtyard was designed to have big and small opennings to let kids to look or crawl through, but I did not figure out why they were changed into same dimenstions even till now. Sometimes I felt discouraged because it took me days to design but took on-site-people a second to change, but I learned to accept it peacefully.

Construction: Surprises And Pities

In the construction site. By Amanda Lote

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Construction detail of the wall and the donkey trough. By Xiao Yin

Construction: Surprises And Pities

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Construction of the wall. By Juliet Landler

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Concrete finish of the south facade. By Xiao Yin

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Construction: Surprises And Pities

June 11th, 2008 From: Xiao Yin To: Tagharma Library Team Re: Tagharma Library

Dear all, It is a pity that the skylight is much smaller than we proposed according to the section, I believe it is my fault to leave only 1000mm between the floors, I do not know if this problem could be better solved, though I have provided one in the cad file.

Also I am worried about the material. It is quite a small building so we want it to be as simple and pure as possible. Ideally we could have only 4 materials within the building, they are: the white lime wall (as the existing wall), the concrete (as floor and roof slab, stage, and stairs), the glass, and the colored plane for the window reveals. Juliet, I do not want to see tiling texture on the window reveals so is it possible to use a entire piece of colored metal plane?

Not enough space for the skylight. By Juliet Landler, Xiao Yin

Xiao

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Stairs on the west facade. By Xiao Yin

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South facade. By Xiao Yin

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Ground surface option with red tiling or atificial grass. By Xiao Yin

Construction: Surprises And Pities

May 20th, 2009 From: Xiao Yin To: Tagharma Library Team Re: Tagharma Library Tiling

Dear all, The cost of the red tiling is RMB 30.00 per square meter. The cost of the artificial turf is RMB 80.00 per square meter.

The roof area is 191m², the courtyard area is 200m² The recommended option will cost RMB11730.00 The half-turf option will cost RMB 21280.00, the all turf option will cost RMB 31280.00 Please notice that in the climate of Tagharma Village, even the turf of best quality needs to be replaced every five to eight years, and I am not sure if that can be an affordable option for the villager in the future.

Xiao

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Design Beyond The Wall

The astonishing bricks in the sunken courtyard.

By Xiao Yin

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Design Beyond The Wall

The east facade. By Xiao Yin

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Design Beyond The Wall

The north facade. By Xiao Yin

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The south facade and the entrance. By Xiao Yin

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The interior under construction and the proposed layout, the idea is to have the floor fully covered by carpet like traditional residence. By Xiao Yin

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We asked a kid to sit by our mock-up table and tested the scale. By Xiao Yin

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Looking for carpet for the interior in the city of Kashgar. By Xiao Yin

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We were bargaining for the beautiful cushions through our translators. By Xiao Yin

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The last sketch I did for the library after the breakfast on our leaving day, it was sketch of a book shelf. By Xiao Yin

Construction: Surprises And Pities

I draw every line carefully as I did for all the drawings, and then I said to my self, farewell, Tagharma, it is time to step beyond the wall myself.

Xiao Yin

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Completion: A Wishful Gift

A WISHFUL GIFT

The east facade of Tagharma Library in the moring sun. By Iris Fung

This is the story of Tagharma Library.

If a building is an architect’s bady, then I guess I was not a wellprepared dad, like other new parents, for its birth. I had good intensions, I tried hard, sometimes in wrong directions, and I learned from those. However, I made my life easier by positioning myself as a volunteer who made a gift for his Tajik friends. The good thing about making a gift is that you design for your friends’ happiness, not only for your own, which is sometimes an architect’s trouble.

To be honest, in that natural setting, around those lovely people, all buildings become naturally monumental. I always believe it was them, not me, shaped the library, and I learned more than I offered.

I wish the library is not a disturbance to the God Mountians and the descendants of eagles. If they could enjoy this wishful gift delivered from thousands of miles away, I will leave this place with joy.

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Completion: A Wishful Gift

Look from the stage roof to the movie wall and the original sketch for it. By Iris Fung, Xiao Yin

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Completion: A Wishful Gift

Look from the school yard to the library and the original sketch for it. By Iris Fung, Xiao Yin

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The south facade and its original sketch. By Iris Fung, Xiao Yin

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Completion: A Wishful Gift

The project manager and the school master in the library. By Ningsheng Li

Completion: A Wishful Gift

October 19th, 2009 From: Iris Fung To: Tagharma Library Team Re: Tagharma Library Update

Hi all, Here you go - Just did my final trip for the year last week to the Swire Library.Glad to inform I’ve handed over the library “officially” to the Headmaster; carpets and other interior decoration all put in and 883 books neatly handed over. They will still need to do a nice clean up, label all books, brief all the kids etc. before starting operation. Attached the latest pics - We can now spot it along the highway on a clear day!

You all played a key part in this project. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR PAST EFFORT AND CONTRIBUTION! More in 2010!

Brgds/Iris

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Completion: A Wishful Gift

Villagers in the reading room of the second level, which more quiet and private. By Iris Fung

Completion: A Wishful Gift

Villagers in the reading room of the ground level.

By Iris Fung

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The plaque of the library was exhibited as a sign of openning. By Iris Fung

Completion: A Wishful Gift

October 19th, 2009 From: Xiao Yin To: Tagharma Library Team Re: Tagharma Library Update

Dear Iris and all, These photos are fabulous! The three years on the library are monumental. Thank you all for the understanding and encouragement during the whole process, which made a naive student enjoy the project and become a bit less naive.

I am glad to see that the library is in use right now. I hope the students will enjoy it.

I heard that the openning ceremony will be in next march, I wish I could join Swire in revisiting the finished library and seeing if it works well.

My Warm Regards Yin Xiao

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The openning ceremony of Tagharma Library. By Iris Fung

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Value is not a logic of development, value is a pratice of development.

Homi Bahbah

Tajik girls were dancing in the sunken courtyard in the openning ceremony. By Iris Fung

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Completion: A Wishful Gift

SEPTEMBER 2006 competition first round 20 out of 90 entries advanced

NOVEMBER 2006 competition second round 8 entries advanced

DECEMBER 2006 competition third round winning design selected

JANUARY 2007 design study in RMJM the experimental skim

JUNE 2007 rammed earth experiment mock-up walls

JULY 2007 facad study buildability study

AUGUST 2007 site visit I site survey

SEPTEMBER 2007 design development modification after site visit

Completion: A Wishful Gift

APRIL 2008 design modification alternative skim

JANUARY 2008 construction document I first round CD finished

AUGUST 2008 construction started ground breaking and piling

JUNE 2008 construction document II second round CD finished

JUNE 2009 site visit II construction review

MAY 2009 interior design furniture and lighting

MAY 2010 openning ceremony book donation

OCTOBER 2009 construction finished turned into use

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