Making the extra yard

The conceptual redesign of a historic Sichuan backyard space wins renowned Chengdu architect prestigious architectural award

When designer friends in Sichuan province meet 52-year-old Liu Weibing, they ask for a photo with his trophy awarded by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Few people get to see a trophy from the AIA, a top-notch organization in the international architectural design community, said Zhang Xianjin, a senior professor from the school of architecture at Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu, Sichuan, who posed for a photo with the trophy.