“Intelligently addressing three critical national priorities for sustainable development policy in China” – Global Holcim Awards Jury
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Global Holcim Awards Bronze prize 2009 hand-over "Sustainable planning for a rural community, Beijing, China": (l-r): Li Yeqing, CEO of Huaxin Cement congratulates winners Ni Feng, Senior Engineer, Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning and Zhang Yue, Associate Professor, Deputy Chair of Urban Planning Department, Architecture School, Tsinghua University, China.
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Hand-over presentation to the winners of the global Holcim Awards Bronze prize 2009 "Sustainable planning for a rural community, Beijing, China": (l-r): Li Yeqing, CEO of Huaxin Cement; Tom Clough, Member of the Executive Committee of Holcim Ltd; Rolf Soiron, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Holcim Ltd; and Zhang Yue, Associate Professor, Deputy Chair of Urban Planning Department, Tsinghua University Architecture School.
This project, Upgrading a rural area near Beijing, intelligently addresses three critical national priorities for sustainable development policy in China – first the more efficient use of precious land by gradually lifting quality of life and living density, second improving the living conditions for rural families as a harmonious and balanced response to urban development, and third reducing the ecological footprint by improved resource management and use of renewable energy sources.
Last updated: May 08, 2009 Zurich, Switzerland
An outstanding element of the approach is the deep analysis of the existing physical and cultural situation of the existing community including numbers of people, density of buildings and the quality of the existing biodiversity. Field surveys and door to door interviews were carried out.
A step-by-step approach is then devised for renewal of houses and circulation spaces to include energy and water efficiency, improved infrastructure for managing human waste, water and rubbish. Care is taken to incorporate improved public spaces for the community as the density of housing is increased. Renovation and reuse of materials is considered alongside new construction using local materials.
There is strong public participation in planning and decision making with no forced eviction from homes. The approach is able to accommodate changes to the status of land rights. Care is taken to keep costs within affordable limits. The judges believe that further economic benefits could come from using recycled waste water for farm irrigation by fully recycling nutrients from the waste stream into the local food production and using secondary biomass for energy production.