Tang Hui fromCAA’s School of Architecture presented his graduation project titled“Evolving Wall Residence” at the2024 CAA GraduationExhibition,winning the gold award. The project aims to explore how to create a high-density residential complex closely related to production and nature.

By reinterpreting and applying valuable spatial elements from traditional villages, Tang hopes to reconstruct the possibility of public life in the context of mass-produced urban architecture. His design employs keywords such as“reshaping production space” and“vertical natural courtyards” to integrate nature and living into high-density residential complexes.

Due to their historical characteristics, vernacular settlements are often difficult to understand and apply in today's era of changing production methods and rapid urban development. However, vernacular settlements, as historical relics, demonstrate the efficient use of natural resources through construction methods and spatial sequences during the production process. This is the treasure of vernacular settlements. In contemporary cities, if we are to effectively reintroduce real natural environments into urban life, the production patterns of vernacular settlements can offer some inspiration.

In his graduation design, Tang attempts to combine vertical courtyards that allow rainwater to flow through with ground-level irrigation channels and pedestrian paths, forming a continuous natural resource management system within the building. For the interior of the residential complex, he attempts to improve the LOFT-style high-density production space, which lacks community definition, by using recognizable units such as courtyard atriums.

Evolving Wall Residence

Artist: Tang Hui (School of Architecture)

Instructor: Yang Jun