Bamboo Hostels_Longquan_Baoxi_China

Bamboo Hostels China, 

_Gross Building Area: 1153 m²

_Concept and Design - Anna Heringer with Stefano Mori, Karolina Switzer, Wayne Switzer, Yu Xi, Timur Ersen

_Baoxi, region of Longquan, China_March 2013 to September 2016

_Client_ Commune of Baoxi, Municipality of Longquan, China

Consultant in earthen structures and over all concept: Martin Rauch.

Consultant in bamboo structures: Emmanuel Heringer.

Consultant in heating system: Harald Mueller, Franz Petermann.

Consultant in energy system: Prof. Klaus Daniels.

_General Builder_Shanghai Kangye Construction & Decoration Co.,Ltd

_Photography Credits: Jenny JI

'The three hostels – the Dragon, the Nightingale and the Peacock – aim to show a quite radical example of building simple yet poetic and humane in a way that it pushes the skills of local craftsmen onto a new level and leaves the biggest part of the profit with the community.

The clients, initiators of this project and I aim to prove that we can create safe, beautiful and humane architecture with natural building materials, in this case particularly with bamboo.

Within three years (2011-2014) China consumed more cement than the USA during the last century. Most of the people living now in concrete housing blocks were living in houses made of natural materials. This trend happens all over the world. Alternatives are needed to reduce CO2 emissions.

The 3 hostels show that traditional, natural materials can be used in contemporary ways: unlike many traditional houses that hide mud behind fake facades, this project celebrates the beauty of natural materials. Using non-standardized, local materials will lead to more diversity in urban and rural regions, foster fair economics – through the creation of jobs – and preserve our planet’s ecosystem.

This project was part of the Longquan International Biennale that sought to build with bamboo, for which 12 architects were invited to build permanent structures.

Our studio was commissioned for 2 hostels and 1 guesthouse. The structure of the hostels is formed out of a core made of stones and rammed earth. The core hosts all facility units and the stairs. Attached to it are the sleeping units. The latter are designed like Chinese lampshades that gloom in the night. Around them is an expressive structure out of woven bamboo.

In general we tend to think that sustainability is about scarcity. But the nature of nature is not limitation. These great building materials, bamboo and mud, are there in abundance. They make sense in economic as well as ecological perspective, are healthy for people and the planet. These buildings are a statement that sustainability is about quality of life and the celebration of nature’s vast resources.

The applied techniques, bamboo weaving and rammed earth, are labour intensive, challenge the skills of local craftsmen and leaving the biggest share of the profit with the community.

The project wants to re-connect with the authenticity of cultural goods shaped out of immanent material characteristics like the bending strength of bamboo, and with the rich tradition in craftsmanship of China like basket weaving. One of the cultural identities of Baoxi is ceramic vessels. Those were the inspirations behind the shapes.

The energy system is based on direct and ‘archaic’ sources like fire and sun, wind, shade, plants and the concept of minimizing the conditioned spaces. Rather than making a huge effort in both money and resources for controlling the climate of the entire volume of the hostels, only the core - that hosts the utility rooms - and the cocoons are thermally controlled. They are protected from the rain and have heating or cooling options on a very low-tech level. The fire is used as a heating source through an effective oven that also heats warm water for the showers (supported by solar collectors) while creating a communicative atmosphere in the common rooms.

With our planet’s limited resources we can’t provide 7 billion people an appropriate habitat made of industrialized materials only. The use of natural materials is vital in order to enable a sustainable and fair development. This project can act as a model for building simple but with sense and believing in the charming power which lies in the natural materials’ authenticity.'

text credits Anna Heringer

Mochi Bar_Viena_Áustria_Büro KLK

'For almost a decade, Mochi in Vienna's 2nd district has been satisfying cravings for extravagant Japanese cuisine. After the original design of the restaurant in 2012, BÜRO KLK was once again commissioned to redesign the popular restaurant. The renovation of the restaurant is known internally as "Mochi Director's Cut" and is seen as a further development of a working concept.

The geometrically pleated counter block made of rammed earth, realised by Vorarlberg clay pioneer Martin Rauch, is the central design element of the interior.

The complementary canopy made of Austrian linen, protected behind gallery glass, continues the parametrically developed lines and complements the reduced ensemble. Targeted lighting accents reinforce the intense spatial effect, and the relaxed ambience, modelled on traditional Japanese soup kitchens.'

The parametric design and the precision craftsmanship make the bar a rare speciality: Four tonnes of loam were installed without stabilizers on an only 10mm thin steel plate. The counter comes in a terrazzo-inspired finish whereas the solid body shows the typical striations as a result of layering different colors and types of soil.

Eng. text by Büro KLK

'Durante quase uma década, o restaurante Mochi, no 2º distrito de Viena, satisfez os desejos da extravagante culinária japonesa. Após o projeto original do restaurante em 2012, o atelier BÜRO KLK foi mais uma vez contratado para redesenhar este popular restaurante.

A remodelação do restaurante é conhecida internamente como "Mochi Director's Cut" e é vista como o desenvolvimento adicional de um conceito processual de restauração. 

O bloco de cozinha geometricamente dobrado, executado em taipa, foi realizado por Martin Rauch, pioneiro da construção em terra de Vorarlberg, e é o elemento de desenho central deste projecto de interiores. 

A estrutura metálica da copa, protegida por vidro e linho austríaco, reforça as linhas desenvolvidas parametricamente e complementa o conjunto reduzido. Apontamentos de iluminação direcionados reforçam o efeito intenso do espaço e o ambiente relaxante, com modelo nas tradicionais cozinhas de sopa japonesas.'

Mochi Bar

Localização_Wien, Austria, 

Client_Mochi GmbH
Architecture_Büro KLK
Builder_Lehm Ton Erde Baukunst GmbH
Conclusão_2021
Ground Floor Building Area_52m2
Fotos_David Schreyer

Conservation of Earthen Architecture_Spring 2022

Conservation Perspectives, The GCI Newsletter
Conservation of Earthen Architecture_Spring 2022
In this issue

- From Visionary Leadership to a Field of Study: Over Fifty Years of Earthen Architecture Conservation by Claudia Cancino

- Ancient Traditions, Modern Education: Capacity Building for Earthen Heritage Conservation by Benjamin Marcus

- Preserving Earthen Settlements in Oman: Conservation and Adaptive Reuse of Vernacular Heritage by Soumyen Bandyopadhyay

- Digital Twins and Real-Time Monitoring: New Techniques for Analyzing Historic Andean Adobe Churches by Rafael Aguilar

- A Delicate Balance: A Conversation about the Conservation of Earthen Archaeological Sites

- Resources A list of resources related to the conservation of earthen architecture

- GCI News with project updates, events, and publications

Download this issue in PDF format