Date 14.07.2022
Location Hunan, China
The Pingtan Children’s Library, designed by our Prof. Peter Ferretto and his team at Condition_Lab, has been selected as finalist at the World Architecture Festival 2022 (Completed Buildings: School) and World Festival of Interiors 2022 (Education).
Located at the Pingtan village of Hunan Province, China, the Book House is designed to mix play and reading within a traditional timber structure, inspiring a love of both books and Dong culture in the local community. From 2019 to 2021, the research team worked on the project together with Professor Cai Ling as well as local carpenters in Pingtan, with the belief that architecture can unite and revitalise rural communities.
Hoping to reawaken a sense of wonder in the Dong culture among schoolchildren and adults, the research team eventually built a new library based on a timber structure that retains traditional Dong vernacular architectural language. This project demonstrates how design can make a difference in a rural community while helping it reconnect with its history and culture.
Condition_Lab is a design-research laboratory led by Professor Ferretto at CUHK’s School of Architecture, together with a group of young graduates who believe that design has the power to improve people’s lives. The Lab’s research revolves around designing socially responsible architectural prototypes. By working hand-in-hand with local partners on real sites, the Lab aims to develop projects that foster a better sense of community.
