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In Deyang, Sichuan, a district less than an hour from the provincial capital of Chengdu, five schools collapsed and 17,000 people were killed during the calamitous 7.9-magnitude earthquake of 2008. Now, one of the marks of Sichuan’s suffering is a symbol of its reconstruction. A new school called Xiaoquan Elementary, designed by Beijing-based TAO Architects, has finally opened its doors to scores of survivors. The firm, led by Hua Li, used locally sourced materials like bamboo, concrete and wood to create a network of streets, plazas, alleys and courtyards that mimic the fabric of the city outside, offering the children a feeling of familiarity. Labour was also sourced from the area, in the spirit of building community.
By: Jessica Beaton
Steps leading to the entrance of Xiaoquan Elementary School.
