Bo Lin

A Manifesto for XinWu Village Bo Lin

As a second year architecture studio focused on design and urbanism, we are happy to present as comprehensive a plan as possible for the bright future of remote XinWu Village outside of LiShui, Zhejiang, China. The studio began with an exploratory site visit and receiving a specific directive from the local government, the class collectively took on the opportunity to address the needs of the village as a rare chance to work for a real client within the educational design studio. Part of the allure of the project are the unique and very common aspects of XinWu Village. With the systemic fight from the village, XinWu village can be a case study for villages at least throughout China. The studio focused on the need for specific localized interventions, much like the shift in manufacturing toward mass customization is unfolding in the 21st century, Our strategy, is to infuse new growth throughout the village. Using existing, and underutilized spaces and buildings to density and re-engage the urban core. The ambition is that areas outside of the existing developed envelope can remain more natural and/or agricultural and if there is a need to expand the envelope it might be done in a way that is sensitive to access to the surrounding beauty and adding an increased dimension of amenities to the village. Examples of this include recycling and water treatment center, medical and care facilities (child and elderly), technical and primary education facilities, a library, and more.