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Introduction

Architect Hsieh Ying-Chun

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  • Hsieh devotes himself to post-disaster reconstruction for more than 17 years. He considers architecture and town-planning a collective endeavour and participatory effort. His projects often originating from the need to provide a prompt response to sudden and unexpected environmental or climatic emergencies focus on principles such as biocompatibility, sustainability and self-sufficiency. 

    Following the massive earthquake in Taiwan on September 21, 1999, Hsieh took his office to disaster area in Nantou County, to begin reconstruction efforts there. Guided by the simple tools and environmentally-friendly materials in Thao tribe reconstruction, Hsieh and his collaborators were able to complete reconstruction within extremely tight economic parameters. In 2004, Hsieh traveled to rural areas of Hebei, Henan, and Anhui to promote cooperative, sustainable building in the countryside to demonstrate a novel and effective integration of rural social and economic conditions. In the wake of the devastating May 12, 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, Hsieh and members of his Rural Architecture Studio aided in reconstructing homes for disaster victims in isolated mountain areas, beginning with the erection of more than 500 model homes. When the August 2009 typhoon ravaged Taiwan’s mountainous and riparian areas inhabited by indigenous minorities. Hsieh was entrusted by a number of charitable organizations with the task of rebuilding longstanding tribal buildings and to work toward permanent housing arrangements. Hsieh and his team rebuilt a total of 1000 homes for members of 13 different tribal groups. In 2010, he also completed work on settlements for Tibetan herders, among other projects.


He was awarded the Curry Stone Design Prize in 2011, the Golden Prize of the Shenzhen Affordable Housing Design Competition (China) and the 16th National Awards for Arts (Taiwan) in 2012. He was shortlisted for UN-HABITAT's Best Practice award in 2004, and represented Taiwan at the Venice Biennale International Architecture and International Art Exhibitions in 2006 and 2009 respectively. He also took part in Liverpool Biennale 2012. 

 

 

Education

  • B.Arch, Tamkang University, 1977

 

Projects

  • Rural community reconstruction after Nepal earthquake in Katunge, Dhading Besi, Nepal, 2016 – present

  • Rural community reconstruction in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China, 2014 – present

  • Rural community reconstruction after Lushan earthquake in Sichuan, China, 2013 - present

  • New rural village development in Henan, Guangzhou, China, 2012 - present

  • Aboriginal community reconstruction for Typhoon Morakot, Taiwan, 2009-present

  • Tibetan Herders Settlement Housing, Namuhu, Tibet, China, 2010

  • Rural community reconstruction after Sichuan Earthquake, May 2008-August 2009

  • Conduct of Agricultural cooperative building in Nan-Tang, An-Hui, 2007

  • Removal of Mei-Yuan Village, Jien-Shi, Xin-Zhu County, 2007

  • Conduct of Agricultural Cooperative building in He-Nan, Lan-Kao, 2006

  • Removal of Tian-Hu Village, Jian-Shi, Xin-Zu County, 2006  

  • Removal of Song-He Village, TaiChung County, 2005

  • Housing reconstruction proposal for Aceh Tsunami, Indonesia, 2005

  • Community Reconstruction of 921 Earthquake, Taiwan, 1999-2006

 

Exhibitions

  • Liverpool Biennial , 2012

  • People’s City: JUT Foundatoin, Taipei, Taiwan 2012

  • People’s Architecture: Touring exhibition, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, China 2011

  • Illegal Architecture: Installation Exhibition of Wang Shu and Hsieh Ying-Chun, JUT Foundation,Taipei, Taiwan 2011

  • Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture , 2009

  • La Biennale di Venezia, 2008

  • Detours: Tactical approaches to urbanization in China, Toronto Exhibition, 2006

  • La Biennale di Venezia, 2006

  • Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture , 2005

  • Myxomycity, MOCA Taipei Exhibition, 2003

 

Awards:

  • 2012 Annual Chinese Culture People, Chinese Culture Promotion Society.

  • National Award for Arts, The National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taiwan,2012

  • First Prize, Curry Stone Design Prize, USA, 2011

  • Contribution to the Public Service, 10th Annual Award to the Outstanding Architect, Taiwan, 2010

  • Special Committee Award, China Architecture Media Awards, 2008

  • Taipei City Cultural Award, 2008

  • Life Sustainability Award, Renlai Monthly, Taipei Ricci Institute, 2008

  • Competition First Prize, Taiwan LiuDuei Hakka Cutural Park, 2006

  • Special Committee Award, ShenZhen Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture, 2006

  • Honor Award for Environmental Protection, Ho Jin-Duei Foundation, 2005

  • Nominee Finalist, UN- HABITAT's Best Practices Dubai Awards, 2004

  • Social Contribution Prize, Taiwan Architectural Award, 2003

  • Taiwan 921 Reconstruction Committee Award for Reconstruction Contribution, 2002

  • Citation Prize, Far Eastern Award for Outstanding Architecture Design, 2001

  • Nominee Finalist, Far Eastern Award for Outstanding Architecture Design, 2000

  • Nominee Finalist, Far Eastern Award for Outstanding Architecture Design, 1999

  • Evaluation of Superior Quality for Public Construction, HsinChu Science Park Standard factory buildings

  • Competition First Prize, Mei-Nung Hakka Museum, 1998

  • Taiwan Architecture Award, Taiwan Architect Magazine, 1997

  • Taiwan Government’s Outstanding Architect Award, 1996

  • Extraordinary Quality Award, Public Construction Commission, Taiwan, 1996

  • Competition First Prize, HsinChu County Cultural Center, 1995

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