Prize winning news report on website

The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University (THAD) won the fourth Baku International Architecture Award for design of the Pagoda Hill scenic spot protection and improvement program in Yan’an on June 12.

To be specific, THAD won the third prize for best tourist building practice in this occasion. It’s affiliated to Tsinghua Holdings Human Settlement Construction Group which is a member enterprise of Tsinghua Holdings.

Pagoda Hill scenic spot area before restoration in July 2013 

Pagoda Hill, destined for patriotic education as well as importance as a historical and cultural heritage, was built in the Tang Dynasty and is now an icon of Yan’an, a former revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China in northwestern Shaanxi province.

It’s the first time that the works of a Chinese mainland architecture enterprise have been awarded by the International Union of Architects (UIA),which means that the Chinese architects’ thinking is highly appreciated by the international academic world and their peers.

Due to a historical lack of protection, the hill is severely damaged. In case of natural disasters such as heavy rainfall, a strong hill collapse could occur which would affect people living nearby.

The effect picture of Pagoda Hill scenic spot 

To protect those people and the natural landscape, the Yan’an municipal government made plans to improve the environment of the scenic spot and build a tourist center equipped with consultation service and exhibition and data information functions.

Thus, THAD worked to restore the valuable architectural heritage, by, for example, reinforcing slippery slopes, removing safety threats from trestle roads along a cliff, and introducing geological hazard controls to respond to potential risks.

The idea of design is “Restoring ecological environment and landscape”

Other measures such as rebuilding of fragmented hills weakened by rainstorms were also adopted to restore the overall ecological environment.

The newly-built architecture fits well into the old because of its use of local yellow sandstone and the traditional craft of “thick seam laying”.

 Real photo after restoration 

A tourist center also designed by THAD improves the service and management functions of the scenic spot. As an emergency command and operation monitoring center, it is also equipped with travel consultation presentations, a book store and a café.

Newly-built tourist center