The Pinch, The Sweep and The Warp

Two architects from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have collaborated on building a series of timber structures, together with the local community and HKU students, as part of post-earthquake revitalisation projects in the province of Yunnan, China. The project series, which was done in three instalments—The Pinch, The Sweep and The Warp—explored wood construction techniques with a complex underlying pattern/structure.

COMMUNITY-FOCUSED
Each project is concerned with reconstruction effort and community rebuilding: The Pinch is a library and community centre for a village located in a valley; The Sweep is a viewing platform and play area near a boarding school; while The Warp is a rest area and roadside market at a scenic location. Collectively, this series explores the social activities of buying and selling, resting, viewing, eating, reading and playing.

THE PINCH: LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE

The site for the library is against a 4-metre-high retaining wall. The design spans across this level difference and acts as a bridge between the rebuilt village and the new memorial plaza. The houses have a direct access to the roof of the library, where a communal space was recreated within the plaza. People can also use it as a viewing deck for the basketball court and as a space where children can play.

Project Name	The Pinch
Location	Shuanghe Village, Yunnan, China
Completion Date	April 2014
Gross Floor Area	80 square meters
Number of Rooms	1
Buidling Height	5.5 meters
Client Owner	Shuanghe Village Local Authority
Principal Architects	Oliver Ottevaere; John Lin
Main Contractor	Kunming Dianmuju Shangmo Company Ltd.
Funding	Gallant Ho Experiemntal Learning Center, The University of Hong Kong
Project Team	Crystal Kwan (project manager); Ashley Hinchcliffe; Connie Cheng; Johnny Cullinan; Jacky Huang; Joyce Ip; Yvonne Xu Meng
Images/Photos	Oliver Ottevaere John Lin; The University of Hong Kong

THE SWEEP: VIEWING PLATFORM AND PLAY AREA

The Sweep is a viewing platform and play area built in a Bai minority village in Yunnan province. Conducted as an experiential learning project in the Department of Architecture at HKU, the project was built in six days with the aid of 65 students. The platform is a natural waiting area for parents and students, offering a shaded space below.

Project Name	The Sweep
Location	Tuanjie Village, Yunnan, China
Completion Date	March 2014
Gross Floor Area	60 square meters
Number of Rooms	1
Buidling Height	4 meters
Client Owner	Tuanjie Village Local Authority
Principal Architects	Oliver Ottevaere; John Lin
Main Contractor	Kunming Dianmuju Shangmo Company Ltd.
Funding	Gallant Ho Experiemntal Learning Center, The University of Hong Kong
Project Team	Crystal Kwan (project manager); Ashley Hinchcliffe; Connie Cheng; Johnny Cullinan; Jacky Huang; Joyce Ip; Yvonne Xu Meng
Images/Photos	Oliver Ottevaere John Lin; The University of Hong Kong

THE WARP: REST AREA AND ROADSIDE MARKET

The Warp is a rest area and roadside market built in Ludian town, Yunnan. Situated in an ethnically diverse region with a majority of Muslims in the population, the project serves as a meeting point and lookout along the main entry road to this mountainous village. The project provides three key spaces: a stepped seating area for selling fruit and produce; a wooden deck for viewing; and a covered resting and eating area.