At the graduation exhibition, Tan Zhengqing, a graduate from CAA’s School of Architecture, showcased her project “Jia Xin”, which means “the core” or “the in-between” in Chinese, and won the gold award. The project focuses on the renovation of the Wulipailou urban village in Jinhua. After an in-depth investigation of the site, its people, and the social context, the project aims to transform this urban village into a community that fosters intergenerational exchange and integration. With the concept of lifelong education, Tan seeks to create an inclusive and open learning environment for people of all ages, thus building bridges for communication between different generations.

From the graduate’s perspective, urban villages, despite being gradually marginalized in the process of modernization, remain emblematic of their times. By redesigning and renovating these areas, she hopes to breathe new life into them, transforming them into community units rich in humanistic care, thereby preserving the memories and history within the urban village.

Moreover, Tan’s project goes beyond site renovation by deeply exploring the relationship between public spaces and private domains, as well as human behavior. In her design, the central area of the site is designated as the main library function, while the middle levels of all buildings are used as reading rooms, dispersing reading spaces throughout the entire site. This creates a core interactive area that tightly connects public and private spaces and human activities.

Through these designs, Tan has achieved spatial renewal and functional remodeling of the urban village, creating a lifelong learning community that integrates learning, living, and interaction. This innovative design not only enhances the overall quality of the community but also provides valuable references for future urban renewal. Tan’s work, with its profound social significance and unique design concepts, demonstrates her deep understanding and thoughtful consideration of architectural and social issues.

Jia Xin

Artist: Tan Zhengqing (School of Architecture)

Instructor: Tsuyoshi Sukegawa, Hideaki Sato