{"id":682096,"date":"2022-12-14T06:05:28","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T06:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=682096"},"modified":"2022-12-14T11:16:53","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T11:16:53","slug":"aj-climate-champions-podcast-chinese-architect-xu-tiantian-on-revitalising-rural-villages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/aj-climate-champions-podcast-chinese-architect-xu-tiantian-on-revitalising-rural-villages","title":{"rendered":"AJ Climate Champions podcast: Chinese architect Xu Tiantian on revitalising rural villages"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this episode, we explore the global phenomenon of shrinking villages in the countryside, hearing about a remarkable series of interventions in villages and quarries in south-eastern China by DnA_Design, a small Beijing practice. Xu\u2019s work relates directly to the VeloCity project which we heard about in episode 14.<\/p>\n

Xu advocates a role change for architects \u2013 they should no longer accept a commission as given, but take initiative and evaluate a project\u2019s regional context to make a proposal that is unique and rooted in its place.<\/p>\n

Climate Champions host Hattie Hartman recently met Xu at the presentation of the Obel Award, for which she is a jury member, and was immediately taken with her sensitive and impactful work. In less than a decade, Xu and her team have built more than 20 projects that vary widely in programme and materiality: a tofu factory, a museum, performance spaces and a brown sugar factory. These projects have attracted new residents back to formerly dilapidated villages by creating jobs and a sense of purpose in these forgotten places.<\/p>\n

Xu\u2019s approach is to tease out the DNA of a place. Every village has its own story and its own materials which determine what should be built and how. The programme and materiality emerge out of conversations with local people to understand the social, economic and built heritage of a place.<\/p>\n

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Win a copy of Greta Thunberg\u2019s The Climate Book<\/em> (Penguin 2022). We have two copies to give away. To be entered into the prize draw, email hattie.hartman@emap.com<\/a> with your name, address, affiliation and a testimonial about the podcast before January 15, 2023. We will choose the winners in the new year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

To catch up on all AJ Climate Champions episodes,\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Find Climate Champions on your favourite podcast app: subscribe via Spotify<\/a>,\u00a0Apple Podcasts<\/a>,\u00a0Google Podcasts<\/a>, Deezer<\/a>\u00a0and Podbean<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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