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.

The second cycle of the Holcim Awards competition has reached its pinnacle: the top sustainable construction projects out of thousands of submissions from all continents have been selected. The four winning entries are a river remediation scheme in Morocco, a greenfield university campus in Vietnam, a rural planning strategy in China, and a shelter for day laborers in the USA. A series of prize-handovers will be held at the site of each project to celebrate the winners and their highly-acclaimed examples of sustainable construction.

The projects that received Holcim Awards Gold, Silver, or Bronze in each of the five regions of the world were automatically qualified to compete for the Global Holcim Awards 2009. The more extensive submission on the Sustainable planning for a rural community for the global phase of the competition can be found here: 

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The winners of the second Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction from across region Asia Pacific were announced at a ceremony in New Delhi. Total prize money of USD 270,000 was presented to ten projects that show future-oriented and tangible approaches to urban renewal and development, energy efficiency and affordable housing.

The dominating highlight of this project is the innovative and unique approach to the overall land use planning for the development of the rural community that is based on a sound field survey and the establishment and scientific analysis of a comprehensive database. The anticipated transformation of this community consists of the overall improvement of the circulation network, public utilities and public services as well as the stringent consideration of ecological and energy saving technologies for the renewal of existing buildings and for newly built facilities. The whole renewal process is driven by public participation and steered by the local authorities. The project is a joint effort of a multi-disciplinary team consisting mainly of academics and government officers. 

Subsistence living conditions drive millions of China’s rural poor into the cities. Concurrently farming land is converted to new uses. Sustainable planning for a rural community is a pilot project in Beijing’s urban sprawl. It demonstrates how much needs to be done to keep people in rural settings – and how much can be done.