Tectonic studies in Beichuan : rebuilding the Beichuan Middle School

Abstract

In his essay, Studies in Tectonic Culture, Kenneth Frampton asserts that the built environment is "first and foremost a construction, and only later an abstract discourse." Building upon this logic, this thesis asks how can we evaluate and critique architecture on it's material, tactile and tectonic dimensions, as opposed to the purely figurative, spatial or iconographic representations that have become so commonplace in Modern architecture? In developing the notion that the architect serves as a link between available resources and the project's needs, this thesis aims to create a tectonic building system for a new middle school in Beichuan county, Sichuan Province, China. How can traditional construction methods and locally available materials be developed into a sound construction typology that will provide the flexibility to adapt to the various scenarios and sites that are inherent in a large scale project? How can it retain key design issues and serve as a catalyst for the future development of the surrounding community?