Hui House የተወሰነ እትም የጥበብ መጽሐፍ

Press Kit

Unique Properties

This limited edition art book depicts Hui-style architecture, the only ancient architectural school that fuses southern lofted structures with northern courtyard layouts, a fading heritage in China. The "windows" of each page transform 2D views into a delicate 3D Hui-style panorama, “unveiling” not only architectural details with spatial reference and proportionality but also the research of Hui houses from the misty Huizhou region, an appeal to protecting Hui-style residential architecture.

Dimensions & Packaging

Limited edition;
Format: 280 mm x 25 mm x 216 mm;
Butterfly binding, half frame wire binding insert, die cutting;
Artistic texture 160g matte paper, 100g acetate paper, 96g sulfuric acid paper;
Silk-screen printing, UV printing

Tags

Art book, Limited edition, Heritage Preservation, Hui-Style Architecture, 3D Visual Print, International Association of Hui Art Studies, Cultural Heritage Advocacy, Architectural Archaeology

Production Technology

3D slicing transforms traditional 2D images into immersive 3D panoramas of Hui-style architecture. The acetate fiber printing enhances the visual depth and clarity, forming interactive "windows" that detail the spatial reference with proportions of Hui-style buildings. Those innovative approaches allow for a dynamic exploration of architectural details and spatial relationships, which offers a unique educational and exhibitive tool for preserving and understanding architectural heritage.

Design Challenge

Research indicates that Hui studies, as one of only three prominent local scholarly traditions in China, face risks due to its inland geographical and historical contexts.

Field research shows that Hui architecture as a crucial cultural heritage is fading: Neglect, poor maintenance, and auctions are causing Hui architectural groups to vanish from the misty Huangshan and collective memory. Also, its construction skills, the core intangible cultural heritage, are nearing extinction.

Research

Hui-style architecture was selected as a focal theme of the Hui cultural heritage conservation project to enhance public awareness and invigorate Hui culture, as it embodies both the tangible heritage of habitats and the intangible heritage of construction techniques. Based on architectural analysis, the Hui style is China's sole architectural tradition that merges southern loft structures with northern courtyards, an increasingly scarce but essential part of the Chinese cultural fabric.

Inspiration

This project describes Hui-style architecture, capturing the atmospheric visual elements of the Hui region settlements under the mists at the foot of the Yellow Mountains, drawing formative inspiration from the Hui architecture's penetrating layout with white walls and black tiles as structural and style motifs.
Unfolding the layers of artistic and cultural forms and structures of Hui houses, thereby showcasing the minimalist aesthetic but also engaging readers in a spatial learning journey.

Project Duration

Launched in Jan 2023 in Boston, prototype bound in Suzhou, China. The project finished in Oct 2023, and was exhibited in HuiZhou Museum, and Bengbu Museum, China.

Operation Flow

Upon first glance, a see-through window channel from the cover to the back attracts readers to Hui-style architecture. As pages turn, iconic sections with narratives and extended details lead readers to a self-paced tour through the building. Layered pages allow users to pause between two sections to observe spatial relationships and different perspectives. This interaction makes ancient, intricate concepts accessible and engaging, fostering a profound impact on spreading Hui cultural heritage.