Page 7 - JCAU-6-3

Journal of Chinese

Architecture and Urbanism

EDITORIAL
Is it a matter of design?

Gerardo Semprebon*
Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction
Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Reshaping Rural China)

Abstract

Rural and urban areas in China have traditionally represented contrasting realms,
largely due to the country’s dual social structure. However, efforts to reduce
inequalities and encourage harmonious planning are reshaping both urban and
rural landscapes, leading to new hybridized forms of living. These transformations
emphasize the importance of design disciplines in experimenting with innovative
settlement models and architectural projects. Recognizing the interconnectedness
and mutual dependence of urban and rural areas is a fertile perspective to frame
the countryside as a significant frontier in China’s cutting-edge architectural
movements. China’s rural revitalization strategy represents the latest initiative aimed
at improving conditions in the Chinese countryside and enhancing the well-being
of its residents. Aligned with the principles of ecological civilization, this policy
calls for the development of new esthetic dimensions that reflect technological
advancements, cultural diversity, socioeconomic values, and political narratives,
echoing similar sustainable agendas worldwide. The contributions selected for this
special issue showcase how various design attitudes have embodied the countryside
development mandate in far-sighted proposals of transformation that addresses
*Corresponding author: several crucial challenges of contemporary living, such as wealth distribution,
Gerardo Semprebon economic stimulation, cultural heritage preservation, and the relationship with
(gerardo.semprebon@polimi.it) nature. These examples suggest that by challenging the ideological commitments
Citation: Semprebon, G. (2024). supporting their feasibility, design practice, and research can be fundamental tools
Is it a matter of design? Journal of for reorienting policy formulation beyond solving specific issues through targeted
Chinese Architecture and Urbanism,
6(3), 3370. design approaches.
https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3370
Received: April 6, 2024 Keywords: Architecture; Design; Village; Rural revitalization; Sustainable development;
Published Online: August 15, 2024 Innovation
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an open-access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution- 1. Introduction
Non-Commercial 4.0 International
(CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits all Rural areas are at the center of complex negotiations involving people’s lives, land use,
non-commercial use, distribution, cultural inheritance, and environmental protection, among other critical issues. The
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is “historical task” of revitalizing the countryside must confront the robust transitions of
properly cited. the present day and orient a sustainable development path for future decades. Some key
Publisher’s Note: AccScience challenges appear inexorably in reciprocal conflict, imposing each transformative action
Publishing remains neutral with to assume a conscious and clear position within a framework of inescapable dilemmas.
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China (data available in 2024),
affiliations. more than 65% of the country’s population was recorded as urban in 2022, compared

Volume 6 Issue 3 (2024) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.3370