Chinese and Italian experts discuss restoration and protection of traditional buildings

An urban lecture on the rebirth of traditional Venetian architecture was held on Wednesday in the Xi'an Innovation Design Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi province in Northwest China, focused on the restoration and protection of traditional buildings.

As the first event of the 2019 Series of the International City Expert Xi'an Think Tank, the activity was sponsored by the Xi'an City Art Exchange Center, and co-sponsored by the administrative committee of the Around-University Innovation Industry Belt of Xi'an Beilin District, Beijing Youjia Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Yijing Architectural Design Co., Ltd.

At the event, top experts from home and abroad discussed in depth such topics as restoration and protection of traditional buildings and transformation and renewal of ancient buildings.

As the keynote speakers, Mr. Carlo Pagan and Mr. Antonio Pantuso, two founding partners of H&A Associati Architecture, Italy, shared classical cases such as the Ordine di Malta Church Restoration Project, the Venice Academy Bridge Restoration Project, the H10 Hotel, the De Majo Hotel, and I' Orologio Horolog Hotel Restoration and Utilization Project. Exquisitely restored traditional architectural space maps were displayed, and all renovation processes were undertaken with full respect to historical documents.

Mr. Antonio Pantuso delivers a speech. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Dr. Wang Tieming, general manager of Shanghai Yijing Architectural Design Co., Ltd., spoke on the topic of "How to View History and the Present Situation", expounding on the continuity of history and its philosophical heritage as well as the unique value of traditional architecture in the city, and sharing how to transform and renew ancient architecture by using the office building of Xi'an Branch of Shanghai Yijing Architectural Design Co., Ltd. as an example.

Dr. Wang Tieming delivers a speech. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The International City Expert Xi'an Think Tank Project, which relies on the Xi'an City Art Exchange Center, was initiated by Georges Vauzeilles, a famous French city planner. It brings together some 100 famous experts in urban planning, architectural design and cultural heritage protection, mainly from France, Italy and Japan.

The think tank consists of eight parts: an urban policy planning center, an urban heritage protection and development center, an architecture and urban design center, an urban culture and art center, an urban environmental protection center, an urban intellectualization center, an urban energy and climate evolution research and application center, and an urban future health and health center, each operated by top international experts.

According to the organizer of the event, its purpose is to give full play to the platform advantages of the think tank plan and the role of experts, and to provide suggestions for integration of resources in a wider space and at a higher level to better serve the urban construction of Xi'an.