The Housing a Billion project was a collaboration with China’s Chongqing Institute of Architecture and Engineering, through which the MCHG explored new methods of efficient land use, planning, and housing solutions for the urban-rural fringe. They produced two demonstration projects: one in Shifang County, in Sichuan province, showcasing user-responsive and culturally appropriate design approaches; the other for a village in the Joulongpo District, in Chongqing, where they proposed village upgrading as a more viable and sensitive way to address the housing problems of rural residents and farmers.
Volume I of Housing a Billion describes the housing design solution which was developed for Fangtin and the planning and architectural concerns that guided the project. It deals with the planning of new housing developments in rural areas; it describes an innovative user-responsive approach that recognizes the advantages and disadvantages of resident population relocation as a strategy in typical solutions to rural housing problems. In addition, it also contains general background information on housing in China.
The second volume in this series is the result of our concerns with the socio-cultural and economic implications of present relocation practices. Problems inherent in formal approaches are analysed and an alternative developmental approach – Village Upgrading – is presented as a more viable and sensitive way to address the housing problems of farmers, and one that is more likely to promote rural development in its widest sense.
Volume I and II of Housing a Billion can be found in our publications.