In 2014, Xu Tiantian, founder ofBeijing-based studio Design and Architecture (DnA) began to work inSongyang County, in China's Zhejiang Province. Her exemplary holisticplanning concept of Architectural Acupuncture, which has gained thesupport of local administrative and political leadership, aims atrevitalising rural areas and comprises the renovation of productionplants and of tourist and technical infrastructure as well as thecreation of venues for culture and education and of social housing. Eachof Xu's small-scale interventions at local level is unique, only thesmall budget is common to all of them. Moreover, they are allinter-related with each other and in their entirety serve the broadergoal of mutual enhancement. This book introduces Xu's concept ofArchitectural Acupuncture and discusses the influence of architecture oncultural self-understanding and economic renewal in 21st-century ruralChina. It features some 20 new buildings and conversions of existingstructures with diverse functions. Published alongside are essays byinternational economists, sociologists, and curators as well as by thesecretary of the Songyang County Party Committee, examining the social,political, and economic implications of sustainable planning andcollective action in the Chinese province.

Confucian Academies in East Asia is a first comprehensive look at the history and legacy of these unique institutions in China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, and both Koreas.

This book tells the story of the Mount Songshan area architecture in simple terms, while also providing detailed information on the history of Buddhist architecture. The history of the Mount Songshan area can be traced back to the Xia Dynasty in the 23rd century B.C. The heritage architecture in this area has seen the rise and fall of various powers – including the Han Dynasty, Northern Wei Dynasty, Tang and Song Empires, Jin Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, and the Ming and Qing Empires – and reflects the character of each historical period. Over the past 2,000 years, history has been continuously woven into the architecture. The Mount Songshan area is, therefore, a perfect representation of the perpetual Chinese civilization, and the most magnificent museum of ancient Chinese architecture. Most importantly, these various types of architecture offer valuable insights into the architectural design and technologies of each historical period. The products of ingenuity and innovation, they are marvellous creations that ancient Chinese people took great pride in.

All the architects in this book deserve international recognition. The reality is, though, that few are household names. Over the last decade, awareness of the need for gender balance in architecture has gained traction. Within the profession, women remain underrepresented, underpromoted and underpaid. Failure to acknowledge women’s contribution to the built environment has perpetuated this cycle and impoverished us all. By showcasing 100 exceptional architects – who happen to be women – this book provides a flagship reference to inspire and support everyone working in the profession, no matter how they identify. Global in outlook, the book presents an equitable sample of architects from every continent. We all need heroines as much as heroes. Through illustrated interviews, each woman shares how they are responding to a profound disconnect between architecture and the people and landscape it serves. Their visions, methods and models of leadership are essential to connecting the needs of humans and the planet. In the words of Indigenous Canadian architect Eladia Smoke: ‘Now is a critical time to seek out every opportunity to transmit this knowledge to future generations.’ Featuring: 100 interviews with leading women architects, including: Tatiana Bilbao, Odile Decq, Liz Diller, Julia Gamolina, Dorte Mandrup and Farshid Moussavi. Over 400 photographs and drawings. Geographically balanced selection, with profiles across every continent.

Based on extended fieldwork conducted between 2007 and 2019, this book aims to answer a simple question: What is the meaning of home for people living in vernacular settlements in rural China? This question is particularly potent since rural China has experienced rapid and fundamental changes in the twenty-first century under the influences of national policies such as "Building a New Socialist Countryside" enacted in 2006 and "Rural Revitalization" announced in 2018. Drawing upon ethnographic fieldwork, building surveys, archival research, and over 600 photographs taken by residents along with their life stories, this book uncovers the meanings of home from rural residents’ perspectives, who belong to a social group that is underrepresented in scholarship and underserved in modern China. In other words, this study empowers rural residents by giving them voice. This book links the concepts of place, home, and tradition into an overarching argument: The meaning of home rests on the ideas of tradition, including identity, consanguinity, collectivity, social relations, land ownership, and rural lifestyle.

Architectural institutions are reviewing modes of learning and practice of architecture to reflect the changing professional landscape. Schools confront the ever-acute tensions between critical thinking and the market. The training of architects who will likely be working in different contexts requires new frames of reference and paradigms. What competencies should the practitioner of architecture possess to bridge technical and managerial specializations in light of competitiveness and nuances of culture? How do the practices and performances of the profession take into account the hybrids and collaborations that define the broad scope of projects? The dilemma of competency lies in the rigorous study of the conditions and processes of architecture, configuring and situating skills and capabilities.