[115] IDEAS IN ACTION – The Book

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ACROSS CHINESE CITIES: (115) IDEAS IN ACTION – Critical Design Practice in China

Book launched at the WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL TAIPEI 2016 

13 – 30 October, 2016

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park – Taipei, Taiwan

The book project Across Chinese Cities – Ideas in Action was featured as part of the International City Pavilion – Unfold Cities at the International Design House Exhibition/ World Design Capital Taipei representing the city of Beijing, where in all 13 participating international cities, countries and organizations had been invited.

Following the latest instantiation of the Across Chinese Cities program at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, Across Chinese Cities – Ideas in Action (Critical Design Practice in China) is the first publication in both Chinese and English language to offer insight in the specific outputs, contexts of action as well as strands of intellectual perambulation that inform the state of design in China today. Styled in form of an almanac, this 320-page book is arranged in alphabetical order by presenting 115 projects developed by a variety of local and international practitioners in the PRC. These cover a breadth of disciplinary encounters, ranging from urban planning, architecture and temporary interventions, to examples of design initiatives and organizations, publishing ventures, open-source and digital fabrication, to just name a few.

‘’What draws shared significance to these assembly of creative visions is their dynamic positioning within generative networks of co-doing and combining of knowledge, their detouring within the remedial scale of actions that can rekindle broken or obsolete relations of production, inheritance and place into novel processes of mutuality and co-dependency. These practices advocate for design actions that are generated by a locally shaped resourcefulness of humanistic and social engagement, yet can be taken as blueprints and propositions of relevance on a global expanse.’’ (from my preface in the book)

They have been selected according to four analytical categories that portray distinct yet interwoven scales of operation and systems of knowledge, to the end of rendering their implicit dependences manifest. They are: Re-Thinking Systems, Spatial Divides, Social Making, Visuality&Objecthood.

If you are interested to buy or distribute the book be in touch via the contact page or write to media[at]bjdw[dot]org.

The book is also presented at Operae Design Festival (3-6 November) with a public talk Urban Perspectives with Carlo Ratti and me, moderated by Cino Zucchi.

ACROSS CHINESE CITIES – IDEAS IN ACTION

(Critical Design Practice in China)

A project presented by: Across Chinese Cities

Organizer: Beijing Gehua-Rizzoli Design & Communication Co Ltd.

Institutional Support: Beijing Design Week

Publication Curator: Beatrice Leanza

Project Management: Evelyn Chen Yi Chenhao

Graphic Design: D-T-Z-W Studio (Li Xibin)

Editors: Qin Lei,Wang Qing,and others

Translation: Zhou Xuan, Lin Yan

www.acrosschinesecities.org