Pingyao, China - Global Heritage Fund

Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Pingyao, China
2011 Project Progress Report
April 2012
Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Executive Summary
Two years after submission for approval for the master conservation plan (MCP) and
management plan, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH) has finally
sent their comments on further changes and compliances needed to be done for final
approval of the MCP in December 2011. This is being followed up by Shanghai Tongji
University and will be resolved in consultation with Shanxi Province Cultural Heritage
Bureau.
After completion of structural restoration of 12 Mijia Xiang, another nearby courtyard
27 Mijia Xiang has completed full restoration. In addition to historic structure repair,
the courtyard restoration focused on testing new ways of heating method (an air
source heat pump is installed instead of a traditional broiler and solving incompatible
aesthetic issues related to rehabilitation of historic courtyard (electrical wiring,
drainage and plumbing, air condition system and heating system, placement of air
conditioning units, etc.).
Shanghai Tongji has finished the draft for the Fanjia Jie Historic Block master plan
and architectural conservation plan in Q1 2011 and a presentation was conducted for
the municipality in April. However, the election and change in management
happened right after that and a new responsible official and department were only
elected in Q3 2011. Since then, further meetings were conducted with new officials
to explain the project goal and action plan. Till end of 2011, the initial demolition of
inappropriate structure and relocation negotiation is ongoing.
GHF China has reached an agreement with UNESCO Beijing to collaborate on
developing a practical guide for the repair and maintenance of historic courtyards
that will go hand in hand with a training program. The first draft of the guide is in
progress and will be launched in 2012 together with the historic courtyard
preservation incentive fund.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Above: Map of Pingyao Ancient City showing the areas where GHF is working on courtyard conservation.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Above: Map of Pingyao Ancient City showing the Core Zone and the Buffer Zone.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
2011 Project Progress
Planning
Review of the Master Conservation Plan and Management Plan, submitted to the
authorities for review in 2009, was completed in 2011. Revisions were made in line
with the requests from SACH, and the completed draft was in review with newly
appointed officials and the execution team.
A survey of historic courtyards was also initiated with the help of a summer graduate
intern, and it is expected that this will be completed in 2012.
Finally, a GHF China Beijing office has been established to coordinate all GHF projects
in the country, and a part time architect consultant has been hired to guide
preservation efforts.
Above: Proposed design for the Fanjia Jie neighborhood.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Above: View of the county-listed courtyard (FJJ3) in the Fanjie Jie neighborhood.
Above: View of a Fanjie Jie courtyard (FJJ6).
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Conservation
Following the success of the pilot rehabilitation of the courtyard house at 12 Mijia
Xiang, work began on a second house – at 27 Mijia Xiang – in September 2011. After
witnessing GHF’s restoration effort at No.12 Mijia Xiang, the owner initiated contact
with the local Urban Planning Bureau to request assistance from GHF. The terms
were that ownership remains within the family and the original structure and layout
will be kept intact (the owner was very conscious of preserving the original state of
the courtyard). The courtyard is located within the Mijia Xiang in the ancient city of
Pingyao, on the south side of the street. The street is bound by the prosperous South
Avenue on the west, Miliangshi Street (the Chenghuang Temple) on the east, and
intercepts with Xingsheng Street in the middle section.
Initial work has included the removal of a non-original structure, basic structural
assessment and repair, installation of air-source heat pump air-conditioning unit,
structural wall reinforcement, build up of an interior partition wall, and improvement
of the water piping and electricity cabling. All of the work has been documented and
will be shared as technical specifications for future courtyard restoration references.
The finished courtyard will be run as a non-profit guesthouse where the profits will be
returned to a public courtyard repair fund. GHF is supporting the restoration of the
courtyard, and the running of the non-profit operation will be co-organized by the
local planning department and selected managing partner.
Above: Overhead view of 27 Mijia Xiang looking into the courtyard before work began.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Above: Design plan for 27 Mijia Xiang.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Above: View of the main (north) structure before restoration.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Community Development
GHF Pingyao Project community development continues to center around support of
12 Mijia Xiang as a community center. As such, the rehabilitated courtyard house not
only preserves the original architectural structure and landscape of the past
Weichanghou Bill Firm, but also serves as the education center of Pingyao’s historical
and cultural heritage preservation in the area.
More importantly, the restored courtyard house represents the fundamental principle
of preserving and rehabilitating the significant historical courtyard houses of Pingyao
while making them an integral and useful component of the modern city and its
inhabitants. The community center now hosts weekly talks in the Pingyao dialect
which are broadcast on television. The space, featuring a reading room for residents
and visitors, is also used for arts and crafts production and exhibitions.
Above: Traditional wood block printing and painting at 12 Mijia Xiang.
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
Partnerships
GHF is working with a number of partners to realize the successful preservation of
Pingyao Ancient City including:
Pingyao County People’s Government
UNESCO Office Beijing
Shanxi Urban Planning Society
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Pingyao, China – 2011 Progress Report
About Global Heritage Fund
GHF’s mission is to save the Earth’s most significant and endangered cultural heritage
sites in developing countries and regions through scientific excellence and community
involvement. Founded in 2002 by Dr. Ian Hodder of Stanford University Archaeology
Center and Jeff Morgan, GHF is the only non-profit international conservancy working
exclusively in developing countries, where there are many threatened heritage sites
but few financial- and technical resources and little expertise to conserve them.
GHF goals include:
• Preserving structures and physical evidence of cultural heritage
• Advancing education about, and protection of, endangered heritage sites
• Advancing community involvement and benefits from preservation
Our work takes each selected heritage project through a process called Preservation
by Design, encompassing master planning, scientific conservation, community
involvement and partnerships to provide enduring protection, management and
financial support. GHF currently has 12 projects in 10 countries, including China,
India, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru and Turkey.
While the nature and depth of each of our projects differ, one theme runs
throughout: that the monuments, art and architecture of our ancestors can, if
respected, bring lasting cultural, social and economic benefits to civil society. GHF’s
mission is to help people realize the value of these assets in places where the sites
are all too often neglected – or worse. GHF invests in countries and regions that have
few resources for cultural-asset preservation and development.
Holistic and effective preservation of cultural resources requires extreme care and
planning to make preservation economically viable to local stakeholders. GHF goes
beyond heritage conservation: We provide catalytic funding, site planning and
technical training for local people to become capable stewards, giving them the
opportunity to contribute more easily to their families and communities. GHF’s
projects also have benefits that surpass their primary conservation and development
objectives; our work holds particular significance because the monuments that we
select are rich symbols of national identity and patrimony.
For more information on GHF’s mission and projects, see:
www.globalheritagefund.org
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Palo Alto, California 94301 USA
Tel: (650) 325-7520
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