In a mountainous village nearby Southern China’s Jingdezhen, AZL Architects have designed a porcelain production site that revitalises an ancient craft. At its core is an egg-shaped wood kiln, built with age-old, regional know-how only four or five people today have.
The BingDing Wood Kiln reflects a deep respect for local context, masterfully displaying how to attract new eyes – and profit – to an industry that’s as much a part of the region as the land itself. The site is surrounded by mountains and bamboo forests in a tranquil environment.
The name wood kiln comes from the local preference for using the reddish timber from Horsetail pines for fuel. But modern industrial technologies, environmental protection requirements and new ways of firing the pottery have greatly impacted the industry and left the technique vulnerable to extinction.
At its core is an egg-shaped wood kiln, built with age-old, regional know-how only four or five people today have. The BingDing Wood Kiln reflects a deep respect for local context, masterfully displaying how to attract new eyes – and profit – to an industry that’s as much a part of the region as the land itself.
Pictures by Li Yao, Suhong Dong, AZL architects
