Page 117 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Development protection of ethnic villages

Figure 24. Building wall receiving treatment. Source: Drawings by the authors

foundation of the original wall, to both decorate and
increase its thickness for improved thermal insulation.
This process also creates a trapezoidal façade outline of
the wall (Figure 24). During the construction, when the
wall is laid 2.5 – 3 feet, “wall reinforcement,” such as round
or square wooden beams or flat wood pieces (Figure 25),
should be placed in the wall to strengthen and support the
wall, preventing the wall from cracking. The overall tone
of the building follows the characteristics of the natural
color of the materials used in Jiarong Tibetan residences.
The Bianma wall is decorated at the floor connection,
cornice, and courtyard wall, rather than uniformly painted
(Figure 26). At the same time, simple auspicious patterns
such as swastikas or Tibetan eight treasure patterns
can be incorporated to better restore the features and Figure 25. Wall reinforcement setting. Source: Drawing by the authors
characteristics of local dwellings. This approach aims to
create a rugged, atmospheric, heroic, and rugged plateau
style of Tibetan architecture through texture and tone.

5.2.2. Roof modification
The roof of Jiarong Tibetan residential houses serves as
the primary space for drying food and clothes in daily life,
thereby necessitating strict load-bearing and waterproofing
requirements. Common residential buildings in this area
usually feature single-layer or double-layer roof structures,
which are characterized by the distinctive layout of stone,
wood, and yellow mud (Figure 27). The color palette
mainly comprises white, black, vermilion, and geometric
pattern combinations, lending strong decorative and
identifying elements to the roofs. In addition to the layout
of the building site, the four corners of the parapet wall
are raised and whitewashed, a feature commonly known Figure 26. Bianma wall decoration. Source: Drawing by the authors
as “bull horn top” (Ling, 2020; Gao et al., 2018). White
stones are placed atop these corners, revered as symbols
of the gods in four cardinal directions. Specially designed expression of reverence for the mountain god by the local
holes in the stone plates are inserted with wooden poles residents.
to hang the colorful prayer flags, which move with the
wind like the residents chanting. Embedded within the The roofs of the existing residential houses are
middle of the wall backing the mountain is a “Simmering constructed with modern reinforced concrete material,
Pagoda,” where pine and cypress branches burn daily featuring only a symbolic “horn top” molded on the four
(Figure 28), filling the air with smoke every day — an corners. The renovation proposes optimization suggestions

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 14 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2043