
Tse Ying Chun 3rd Architect of Building Studio
Nguyen Ching-Yue Architect, Curator, Writer
Wen Shin Art Center (No. 6, Lane 10, Lane 180, Section 6, Section 6, Minquan East Road, Neihu District, Taipei City)
3/06 AESTHETICS: FROM “SHENZHIZIDI” TO “LIKE THIS KIND OF ASTHMA AND IMASHIROGAKI”
3/13 Civilian Architecture: From “People's Buildings” to “People's Cities”
◆ 3/20 Yes/None: From “Mutually Entity” to “Participatory Architecture”
3/27 Imagining a Future Civilization: Tribal, Community, Sustainability
Topic Sharing: 45 minutes
Conversation: 45 minutes
QA: 30 minutes.
One lecture is $500, four-course package is $1800. 20% discount for students with student ID card (valid student ID must be presented for admission)
This event can be purchased at the bookshop with an invoice and a discount on the day book store is 150 yuan
After the Great 921 earthquake, Xie Yingchun and the Shao tribe rebuilt their homes. Xie Yingchun not only led fundraising and construction, but also persisted in this mechanized world. He still uses low-tech methods to respect the weak workforce, regardless of men and women. He believes that all individuals and families can help each other. Build your own home.
Using his experience in building construction in this earthquake, Xie actively entered the impoverished countryside of China, helping farmers in need of housing to build their own homes. After the 2008 Wengchuan earthquake, the mountains of Mao County, which are mostly Tibetan, Qiang, and other ethnic minorities, carried out the reconstruction of more than 50 Yangliu villages. After the Wengchuan earthquake in 2008, the Qian people participated in the construction of more than 50 people. Build and restore or perpetuate original beliefs, rituals, and the autonomy of the inhabitants as a primary goal of architecture.
The most fundamental difference between Hsieh Ying Chun and other architects is that while using industrialized building methods, they avoid reliance on high technology and special materials, stick to a simple process of materials and construction, and try to obtain natural ecological materials from the vicinity, such as stone, bamboo, etc., in a simple, low-tech way. A smart, cheap, and mutually supportive way to encourage people to cover their homes. In addition, allowing users to participate in covered houses not only saves construction costs, but also enables vulnerable people to build self-esteem and confidence by participating in the construction, but also critiques and solutions to the current phenomenon of overly capital- and technology-driven construction through this practical building system.
When star architects are now considered the meaning of architects, Xie Ying-chun's appearance and work not only made people rethink the social significance of architecture, but even wonder if architecture can save the world.
The lightweight steel structure developed by Ying-Chun Hsieh's team is an open system that can handle everything from design to the production of standardized materials and assembly. It allows residents to adjust spaces according to their needs. The standardized steel materials are assembled using dry construction methods, with only the foundation strengthened by grouting. The walls and partitions are made by locally available natural materials such as earth, stones, bamboo, or are built with bricks. Since elements beyond the beam-column structure can be configured with different layouts or materials based on users’ needs, it is called an open system. This approach enables a variety of house designs, giving each completed house unique properties.
This system is conceptually inspired by Christopher Alexander's "A Pattern Language" (1977). The significance of the pattern lies in creating a communication-friendly, object-oriented construction language through organized design methods, allowing it to accumulate and continue over time. For example, the traditional houses of ancient times had long-standing pattern languages for construction scales and techniques. These were not rigid regulations but rather established principles or habits, making them widely applicable. Hsieh's team has adapted their design into a pattern language and proposed "Housing Industrialization 4.0." With unique schematic diagrams and modern digital technologies, the precision can be achieved, while making the ideas of "platformization" and "collaborative participation" in pattern language feasible, serving as a solution to large-scale housing.