5.5Yan’an, China
5.5.1 Yan’an, China
The Project
This project was conceived in the 1980s, when Xi’an University started researching traditional house types. They found the yaodong (cave dwelling) to be a very intelligent type for three main reasons: firstly, ease of sourcing materials; secondly, simple construction, making it possible for any able person to self-build; and thirdly, thermal mass – internal temperatures even out in winter and in summer.
The university were concerned about the quality of housing being built, particularly in the countryside. Professor Wang Jun says that architects in China are much more concerned about aesthetics ...
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