John Lin and Lidia Ratoi / The University of Hong Kong

The ground often becomes a battleground where tradition and modernity clash. The separation evident between China’s traditional underground homes and the contemporary above-ground apartments highlights the divide between customary land uses and today’s industrialized infrastructure. Yet, there’s an opportunity within this divide. By delving into this separation, there’s potential to rejuvenate the traditional underground courtyards and create a balance between the old and the new.

 

John Lin and Lydia Ratoi have extensively researched traditional habitats across China and are reimagining our relationship with the land. They intervene in these separated grounds, either transforming courtyards into areas for community engagement or introducing structures that connect the disparate elements. Through their work, the architects prompt us to consider: When traditional land usage no longer aligns with our needs, how should we rethink our approach and become actively involved?

 

- John Lin is a professor of Architecture at The University of Hong Kong. In 2005 when the Chinese government announced its plan to urbanize half of the remaining 700 million rural citizens by 2030 he recognized that the rural is at the frontlines of the urbanization process, and together with Joshua Bolchover established Rural Urban Framework (RUF). Conducted as a non-profit organization providing design services to charities and NGOs, RUF has built or is currently engaged in various projects in diverse villages throughout China and Mongolia.

Lidia Ratoi is an assistant professor at The University of Hong Kong ？ Department of Architecture. She holds a degree in robotic fabrication from IAAC Barcelona, the Open Thesis Fabrication program, and has previously completed her master’s studies in architecture at UAUIM, Bucharest. At HKU, she is currently coordinating the year 2 undergraduate degree and works on projects investigating material ecology and sustainability in the realm of robotic fabrication.