Research On Contemporary Regional Construction Techniques

This thesis is based on the proposal of the Buddhist Institute in Xiangtangshan area, Handan. With a long history, Handan has a number of cultural heritages that need protection and rehabilitation urgently. On the other hand, Xiangtangshan area is rich in mineral resources and has a long history of mining, thus having severe environmental problems which should be well resolved. In addition, according to the site visits, I find that there are a lot of local construction skills which are not well preserved. Therefore, I put forward the issue of the thesis:contemporary construction technology based on Xiangtangshan geographical characteristics, specifically from three aspects-traditional architecture, natural environment and local Buddhism influence. This thesis mainly includes three parts:theoretical research, site investigation and practice report.The theoretical research part consists of two subjects:"Xiangtangshan local characteristics" and "regional skills". The data I referred include related local literature and professional architectural literature from home and abroad. Then I clarify the difficulties in the process and the innovation of this thesis.In the site investigation, through field survey and interview, I investigate three aspects-traditional architecture, natural environment, local contemporary Buddhism. I investigate five local traditional buildings, mainly focusing on architectural space, structure, and material; I study the geological features, the climate and water system by exploring the site along with data analysis; I make out contemporary meditation mode and functional requirements by interviewing local monks. The investigation of these three aspects guides my design practice.The practice report is the primary body of the thesis. I put forward three aspects of construction technology and propose six construction strategies by classifying the investigation results:(1) "traditional skills" and "ecological technology" is a continuation of the design context; (2) "material selection and construction" is the decomposition of the construction process; (3) the building’s infrastructure systems are the practical functional demands. The three aspects inspire and reinforce one another.I expect to reach three purposes by this thesis. First, to raise local awareness of Xiangtangshan’s natural context and restoration of ecological environment, aiming to achieve the sustainable development of local culture and nature. Second, to deepen my understanding of construction technology. I insist that technology should be the embodiment of the architects’wills which run through the design process. The real excellent technology does not merely follow the standards, but can be imaginative and creative. Third, to explore new ways in which the achitects are able to break the predicaments in modern architecture studies. Primitiveness not equal to low-efficiency. It is a farsighted and wise choice for architects to make a thorough investigation into tradition and pay close attention to regional characteristics.