Representing Pasts – Visioning Futures
Abstract
Chinese recent urban history has been characterized by Dacai-Dajian (Large-Scale Demolition and Construction) during its market-oriented phase, which saw historical settlements on the urbanization front demolished. Wenzhou region, a former third-tier city known for its small-scale privately driven economy, was affected later by this urbanization wave. However, many of Wenzhou’s historical settlements have been demolished during the last ten years, despite the recent interest in their historical value. Our research looks at this demolition process in the previous ten years on the north-south urbanization axis of the Wenzhou region. At a regional scale, we aim to quantify this entropic process which, while aiming at more legibility, jeopardizes the cultural landscape logic and its resilience. At a local scale, we are digging into the details of the destruction process and borrowing Lévi-Strauss’ concept of entropology to analyze and qualify the urban and social impact of destruction and Lefebvre’s analysis of the transition from rural to urban to understand the difference of the 21st century China conditions. From time-lapse photography to map-series and photogrammetry, our research explores the means to represent such a process and the actors involved in it through mapping controversies (MP). Beyond the historical sequence, we question how to deal with heritage in such conditions, heritage beyond saving as Caitlin Desivley describes in her book Curating Decay. How can the past be represented when it cannot be preserved? And how to curate urban heritage after its demolition?
Vincent Peu Duvallon is an Assistant-Professor and Executive Director of the School of Public Architecture at Wenzhou-Kean University. He received his professional degree at the ESA in Paris, France, and did his apprenticeship with Christian de Portzamparc and Frederic Borel in Paris. In the last decade, he has maintained an active professional practice in Asia with built works in Korea and China. His work in Wenzhou and Shanghai has been recognized for adapting antiquated factories into new mixed-use. His research focuses on contemporary vernacular environments and landscapes.
Huang Tieru is a Research Assistant at the School of Public Architecture, Wenzhou-Kean University. She got her B.A. in Architecture Studies in 2017 at the same school where she has been extensively involved in extracurricular projects, competitions, and research. Her work on Chinese Suburban Villages was exhibited in XJTLU Suzhou in the spring of 2019. In fall 2020, she was awarded the first prize in the Wenzhou-Kean University organized competition on “Architecture, Culture, and Agriculture” with her team entry “Points of Departure,” which she presented at the 2020 AMPS Cities in a Changing World International Conference. ;
Kun Bao has been studying architecture at the school of Public Architecture, Michael Graves College, since Fall 2020. During his studies, He actively participated in design competitions for rural renovation. He was awarded for the 2021 Zeya Street Renewal competition. Also, he actively participated in some research on vernacular architecture, landscape design, and urban design. He focuses on studying how architecture interacts with people.
12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Friday 2nd December, 2022