After the three and a half weeks we spent in Chinese village of Wuzishen (Nanling forest), one of the outcomes is my proposal for architectural changes to the streets of ping-fang houses in which the retired forest workers live. These are set to be demolished in the next 3 years and tower blocks will be build to house the residents. However the ping-fangs are unique houses much loved by those who live in them, built in 1958 during Mao's 'great leap forward' they are set on communal streets that splits the sleeping area and lounge from the kitchens and bathrooms. This ensures constant to-ing and fro-ing. interaction with neighbors and a sense of community.   

The challenge is to create a far more holistic re-development scheme using the existing buildings that looks and smells like progress, modernises some of the very basic kitchens and bathrooms and attracts a younger generation to the housing, it should maintain the existing unique character and feel of the Ping-fangs. It would also need something to attract visitors, helping unite the division between the incoming tourist wealth (for the nature park) and the village.

Click here for a movie that outlines the proposal so far for Mr Chen from the Nanling eco-resort company who seemed interested in helping to build a prototype/ show flat.

Caption: discussing poposed architectural changes in the village market. 

I can't believe that another of my favourite buildings in Leeds is being destroyed! (along with the international swimming pool). The H-blocks at Leeds Metropolitan University are about to meet their maker. Surely these functional concrete structures with a proper internal refit and new metal or wooden windows could stay, maintaining their honest geometric simplicity and no nonsense chic that has graced the student zone in the city for the last 40 or so years. This would also be far more eco friendly than wasting energy demolishing them and building some mediocre quasi-contemporary architecture in its place which will also meet the demolition squad in another 30 years. It would be nice to see more of this concrete architecture receiving the same holistic approach and regeneration that the industrial brick buildings of the 18th and 19th century have in recent years. The H-block buildings are currently used as the art department and convey a gritty urban edge that art needs, also referencing back to the days when Leeds was awash with political activism and the Leeds Metropolitan (then polytechnic) led the way for cutting edge performance art. At least Leeds University is still keeping some of its fantastic 60's and 70's gems (because it is so Sci-Fi it is rumoured to have been used to film episodes of Blake Seven).

Visit to the apartment in the suburbs of Paris in which Le Corbusier lived between 1935 and 1965, in the top two floors of a residential block that he designed. It had flexible space and views with large swing doors/walls, transparency on both sides of the building looking over the Paris skyline. It is strangely empty compared to the cluttered space in the documentary photographs that show it as his home and studio.

Watch a video walk around of the apartment.