2026 Research Trip to Gannan

From 21 to 29 July 2026, our team travelled through Gannan, undertaking field research into the relationships between architecture, material, landscape and everyday life.

FIG.2Exterior view of the timber structure under construction

FIG.3Timber eaves and earthen wall detail

In Diantang Village, we encountered rammed earth as an active and continuing construction practice. Soil was placed and compacted layer by layer through collective labour, gradually forming walls whose weight, texture and material presence remain closely connected to the ground from which they are made. The process revealed how building knowledge is sustained through shared experience, rhythm and care.

Our visits also brought us into the homes of local residents. Timber frames, earthen walls, stoves, beds, shelves and household objects revealed interiors shaped gradually through everyday use. Rather than remaining fixed examples of vernacular architecture, these homes continue to evolve in response to local materials, climate, family routines and changing needs.

FIG.6Interior of a resident’s home in Diantang Village

FIG.7Zhangwa Tashitangchow interpreting from Tibetan for the team

FIG.8Bedroom interior in a resident’s home

FIG.9Daylight entering through the lightwell

Throughout the journey, conversations with craftspeople and residents offered insights into how materials are selected, buildings are maintained and spaces are adapted over time. Much of this knowledge is embedded in practice, evident in gestures, routines and decisions refined through years of experience. The landscape, the people we met and the wider living environment all contributed to our understanding of the places we visited.

FIG.11Domestic interior beneath a lightwell

Credits

Research teamHanyi Zhang, Nettie Ni, Yachi Wang, Yanping He, Yibo Wang, Zhifeng Li

Photographs & VideosNettie Ni, Yanping He