Asian Architecture Research Paper

1. ASIAN ARCHITECTURE
ARC60403/ARC2234
PROJECT: CASE STUDY PAPER
Wapan Technique used in Ningbo Historic Museum
to Revive Traditional Chinese Construction Techniques
Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Architecture
School of Architecture, Building & Design
Taylor’s University
Tutor : Mr. Nicholas Ng
Group: Canisius Bong Wei Pheng 0318914
Joyce Wee Yi Qin 0319602
Kan Sook San 0319326
Ong Eu Xuan 0319050
Ricco Soh Zheng Wei 0319890
Tan Wing Hoe 0319333

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Table of Contents
Abstract
1.0 Overview
1.1 Building Overview: Ningbo Historic Museum, Zhejiang, China
1.2 Building Construction Method: Wapan Tiling Technique
2.0 Origin of Wapan Technique
2.1 Historical Factors
2.2 Contextual Factors
3.0 Materiality
3.1 Use of Materials
3.2 Evolution of Materials (Culture and History)
3.3 Memories
4.0 Construction Technique
4.1 Original
4.2 Modified
5.0 Significance of WaPan Technique in the Urban Context
5.1 Slow Architecture
5.2 Sustainability
6.0 Conclusion
7.0 References

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Abstract
This paper dwells on the use of a traditional construction technique that was once used
successively in indigent villages and has been discontinued in modern day China due to the
development of the country, causing traditional and cultural techniques to be eliminated and
forgotten. (issue)
With China being such a great influence to many countries, its traditional culture should be
revived and preserved. The traditional techniques, like the Wapan tiling technique should be
further explored with modern technology and present day methods. (objectives)
Literature reviews and comparative studies on chinese traditional construction techniques are
conducted, and further analyzed to supply for our research. (methodology)
The use of Wapan tiling technique has been forgone for many years since the modernization
in China, until Chinese architect Wang Shu decided to take on the technique in his facade
design for the Ningbo Historic Museum. (case study)
Furthermore, to relate our case study building to the topic, we have also deliberated on other
case studies of similar context, culture and construction techniques. Similar techniques
explored includes slow architecture. Other architectural examples were referred to, countries
like Canada and Ireland displayed development on the architecture approach, many
architecture in these countries were cultivated gradually, combined with ecological and
sustainable approach. (case study) (findings)
This paper would cover subtopics related to the Wapan tiling technique, which may include
materials and its origins, factors that led to building of Wapan walls, as well as the
significance of these walls to urban Ningbo.
In a nutshell, this paper will focus on the Wa Pan technique used in the Ningbo Historic
Museum. Wang Shu implied that due to the increasing modernization in the area, the Wa Pan
technique is slowly being forgotten. In this paper, an analysis on the information of this
technique will capture how it shaped the Ningbo culture, and how the technique was
abandoned and gradually discontinued in Ningbo. (discussions and conclusions)

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1.0 Building Overview
1.1 Building Overview
The Ningbo Historic Museum, Zhejiang, China
The Ningbo Historic Museum is located in the Yinzhou District of Zhejiang, a district of
administrative and commercial land use. The surrounding site is occupied with buildings that
are tall, boxy and symmetrical in typical style of municipal architecture in China.
The museum is designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winning Chinese architect Wang Shu,
and was opened in 2008. Inspired by the influence of the East China Sea in Ningbo history,
the museum design is shaped from the concepts of mountains, water and oceans. Its form is
also morphed out of shapes of boats and lands, making the building an icon to Ningbo culture
and history.
It is an asymmetrical construction, measured at 144m long, 65m wide and 24m high. The
museum’s main facade is composed of various traditional historical customs of Ningbo, as
Wang Shu has sought to continue and recover the tradition of old Chinese village construction
techniques.

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1.2 Building ConstructionMethod
Wapan Tiling Technique
Traditional Chinese construction methods are used on the Ningbo Historic Museum. The
Wapan tiling technique, with the aid of modern technology, gives the building a statement
look. The stacking tiles that make up the outer skin of the building reflects the memory
Ningbo.
Wang Shu constructed these walls mainly by using old, used raw materials collected from the
demolition of traditional Ningbo villages. He perfected a mixed system with these materials
and steel, concrete beams to construct a modern day Wapan wall.
Over twenty different types of brick, stones and tiles were collected from the demolition of
the fifteen villages destroyed in the Ningbo region, and were reused to construct the museum
using the Wapan tiling technique, that was first used in the region to quickly rebuild the
villages after natural disasters that frequent the area.
The recycled tiles, stones and bricks were arranged by the craftsmen without being planned
by the architect.

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2.0 Origin of Wapan Technique
2.1 Historical Factors
During the late of Qing Dynasty, the glory of China’s Imperial Era no longer exist as the
intruders took advantages of unstable political condition of China where the war occurred.
Ci Cheng, a small ancient town of Zhejiang with hundreds acres was destroyed by a fire
during the war. The wealthy families with official statuses and businessmen who escaped
from the war were in straitened circumstances; therefore they did not have the ability to
rebuild their fame and wealth from the past.
As time goes by, Ci Cheng was replaced by small houses and rooms, In the midst of hardship,
the craftsmen’ wisdom and abilities had revived the damaged town by using the remaining
rubble and debris caused by the war.
Thus, they initiated the Wapan tiling technique in China. After the liberation, the town had no
property to be cultivated because of the abandoned county town and undeveloped traffic way.
As a result of the enclosed town, up until the 1970s when the contemporary building did not
exist, the traditional ancient buildings were survived from the demolition.

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1.2 Contextual Factors
The northeast of Zhejiang Province is one of the most typhoon prone areas in China. The
traditional villages that were located by the sea were easily destroyed by the strong wind of
nature.
Within a short period of time, the villages were able to recycle the available debris from the
aftermath of the natural disaster to repair their destroyed homes. The mixed use of recycled
bricks and tiles in the construction had initiated a technique called Wapan.

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3.0 Materials
3.1 Use of Materials
Wapan applies the stacking method in its construction. It may be composed of various types
of material, ranging from recycled brick to rocks. As for Ningbo Historic Museum, Wang Shu
mainly took on bricks and clay tiles that were found among the debris of Ningbo villages.
After a brief appraisal, Wang Shu encountered a standard sized grey brick that was
approximately 20cm wide at the site. He stated that the brick was produced 400 years ago
during the Ming Dynasty.
Following that, he discovered various types of stone, some of which are from the Qing
Dynasty and Tang Dynasty. The oldest brick is from the Tang Dynasty approximately 1500
years ago. Millions of tiles were collected, they were commonly used as decorations in
economic constructions like Wapan tiling technique in the past.
3.2 (Evolutionof Materials)
Culture & History
The Wapan tiling technique strives to bring both nature and heritage into a building through
its use of materials. Clay tiles in particular are tied to the earth, and tend to evoke designs of
ancient Chinese structures. The use of Wapan wall was initially developed to cope with
natural disasters in the region using used materials like brick and tiles.
The Wapan masonry facade of the Ningbo Historic Museum was mainly constructed with
reclaimed materials, collected from local village demolitions. These materials include roof
tiles, different brick pebbles, bamboo cane molded with concrete, and more than thirty types
of brick and tiles that would eventually shape the unique pattern of the museum. It reflects the
sustainable advanced culture tendency and the theme of ecology, as well as culture
amalgation.

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Wangshu devised a new creation of Wapan technique for the Ningbo Historic Museum,
calling it “bamboo cane molded concrete’. Bamboo was used due to it being a characteristic
local plant in the Ningbo region. The nature of bamboos’ random cracking can be clearly seen
through its texture on the concrete.
To ensure that the materials were aligned perfectly straight as the exact execution of the
design was extremely tough. However the undesirable feature managed to show the beauty of
handmade nature, which embodies the traditional construction system with the materials’
natural color and texture.
The Wapan wall was mainly constructed using tiles. However the entire Wapan wall of
Ningbo Historic Museum was constructed using old materials that reflect the culture tendency
of the village.
3.2 Memories of Material
In the past, Wapan was once considered as a lowly material and technique of the poor, but in
present day this technique has been reinforced in a manner that permits it to function on a
scale demanded by contemporary Chinese standards.
However, the application of the technique in Ningbo Historic Museum is distinctive. Its
facade is composed of grey conglomerate, along with terracotta roof tiles and grey stacked
pebbles that were intentionally adapted by the local artisans of Ningbo. It creates shows traces
of Ningbo’s historical past, and reveals a collage effect that shows invitation to allow visitors
to come upon the place to explore its past.
In an interview, Wang Shu revealed that the materials used for the walls are not merely debris
of the village demolitions, but also history, time and experience. Over the decade, people who
touched the bricks were experiencing a nostalgic trip through the usage of materials.

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4.0 Construction Technique
Throughout the years, the function of Wapan tiling has evolved multiple times. In order to
suit the different functions, the construction technique is modified for additional strength and
stability.
4.1 Original
The emergence of Wapan tiling is a demonstration of skills owned by the artisans to create
strong yet aesthetic walls. It is a symbol of social status as it requires patience and a special
skillset, and it involves a large amount of time to produce.
The construction of the outer wall starts from a strip of stones (放墙角) at the base of the wall
to be built. The dirt on the base is removed and replaced with stones arranged neatly and flat
below a layer of crushed tiles that serves as fillers. The wall is then built by layering broken
tiles and bricks that are reinforced by a thin layer of lime. The gaps between the tiles allow
better ventilation. The inner wall is further reinforced with the application of a full layer of
husk or gluten mixed with mud. Upon drying, another layer of hempcrete and lime is applied
to give the wall a white wash.
Per an artisan that had been in the field since his younger days, there are a lot of tricks in
making a great Wapan wall. “When I just started to pick up this skill, we were told that
Wapan is an art of inner peace and should be experienced. But we could not comprehend the
skills taught by our seniors. Thus, everything was a as we made uneven walls with uneven
layering.
4.2 Modified
In places that are prone to typhoons, such as Ningbo, the Wapan tiling is implemented in
villages as an instant restoration method after the destruction. Wapan tiling technique is used
in small areas of the walls and roofs that are broken during the typhoon using the broken tiles
that were blown away. Due to the speed of reconstruction, the tiling is less reinforced and are
prone to be broken again.
In the context of the Ningbo museum, the function of the Wapan wall is brought back to its
original function which is as a façade with hints of restoring the society that is destroyed due
to urbanization.
The construction of the Wapan wall is a fusion of ancient techniques and modern building
systems. In the Ningbo museum, the Wapan wall is a thin facade layer of approximately
240mm. Functionally, it is designed as a form of wall cladding rather than a structural wall
due to its poor compressive strength. Its reduced thickness accommodates building systems
such asinsulation layer, air conditioning and piping systems.
Another major factor that caused the modification of the Wapan masonry in the Ningbo
Historic Museum was the height vs the compressive strength of the Wapan wall.
The facade of the Ningbo Historic Museum reaches a height of 24 metres, exceeding the
height of Wapan walls constructed in traditional dwellings. Due to the nature of the materials

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and the building technique, the great increase in height highlights the poor compressive
strength and stability of the Wapan masonry in the context of the Ningbo Historic Museum.
To solve the issue, the total height of Ningbo History Museum is divided into independent
wall blocks of 3 metres to distribute the huge load. Many wall testings were carried out on
site with final prototypes producing a facade system from Wapan masonry and mortar,
combined with a concrete linear panel.
The Final Wapan masonry consist of four components that are the Wapan wall masonry,
concrete linear panel, mortar and reinforced concrete structure. Due to low compressive
strength of the masonry, it requires the periodic support of invisible concrete ledgers
integrated horizontally into panel every 3 metres. The entire masonry facade system is then
tied back to the concrete linear panel, joined tightly together using tie bars to form one whole
unit. This help to improve the structural safety of the wall. The 15 centimetres reinforced
concrete linear panel is the main load carrying structure.

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5.0 Significance of the Wapan Technique in an Urban Context
5.1 Slow Architecture
Slow architecture refers to architecture that is created and grew gradually instead of being
built for short term goals, and often shows ecological and environmentally sustainable
qualities.
Due to China’s frequent effort to upgrade towns and cities in metropolitan Ningbo to improve
living standards of the residents in a short amount of time, the use of Slow architecture is
extremely scarce in modern China.
Wang Shu is known to be described as “China’s champion of Slow architecture”. Many of his
designs tend to recall China’s older cities, densely packed and holds qualities of traditional
China’s narrow streets and courtyards. In an interview, Wang Shu expressed his worries on
the cities today, implying that they are growing too quickly and have become too large.
From afar, the Ningbo Historic Museum resembles an ancient Chinese fortress, walled up
with tilting thick walls that look weathered by centuries. But up close, the coarse, uneven
facade surface reveals to be assembled of salvaged, worn natural recycled materials. Grey
tiles and rocks and bright orange terracotta alternate the walls. On the inside of the building
lined angled walls and narrow corridors that open to wide, grand atriums, resembling qualities
of China’s Hutong.
An important aspect of slow architecture include reusing existing structures and objects, as
opposed to producing new ones.
Slow architects like Wang Shu, tend to prefer filling in existing urban spaces with traditional,
lesser developed methods and materials. He explored creative uses of old objects in the
Ningbo Historic Museum, by reusing recycled building parts, constructing the structure of the
building using a traditional method, the Wapan tiling technique that was greatly abandoned in
the Ningbo region.
Wang Shu implied that he was interested in the revival of Chinese traditions, but in
contemporary form, as well as the reuse and recycling of old building materials. He
acknowledged that construction would be infinitely improved as the result of working by
hand, traditionally.

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5.2 Sustainability
The traditional Wapan tiling technique is known to be much more sustainable than the
modern construction methods being used today in modern day China. Despite its needs of
labors and time, the Wapan wall is proven to have reduced the material cost by a lot. Most of
the material, salvaged from village demolitions, are cost free, and the Wapan tiling technique
is also highly energy saving, as they operate using manual labors.

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Conclusion
Over the years, the upgrade that had been over years in China has significantly modernized
and improved the lifestyle of the people in the country. Various projects initiated to tear down
older buildings in Ningbo, to make way for modern skyscrapers and large building
developments.
Traditional Chinese construction methods have been long abandoned in the past recent
decades, up until award winning architect Wang Shu decided to take upon the chance to
design and construct the iconic Ningbo Historic Museum using the traditional Wapan tiling
technique. Wang Shu commemorates the history of old Ningbo, whether in its designs,
showcases and materials used, but most importantly in its method of construction.
The Wapan tiling technique is the utmost representation of Ningbo, reflecting the history that
made up the city. It successfully captured the memories that was once held dearly in the
villages of Ningbo.
In a nutshell, this paper collates the information that made up the traditional Wapan tiling
technique, and what caused the use of this construction technique to dwindle in such drastic
amount. It guides through the history and fallout of Wapan, and its revival and regeneration
upon the design of the Ningbo Historic Museum. It shows Wang Shu’s Wang Shu’s foremost
intention to revive the spirits and culture that was diminished when the Chinese government
sought to demolish the villages of Ningbo.
Through this paper, we are able to understand the significance of the traditional tiling
technique, and how it impacts the urban Ningbo better. We are able to trace back the origins
of this technique, analyze them and propose ways that would proliferate the use of traditional,
abandoned construction techniques.

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References
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https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/index.php/Ningbo_Historic_Museum
Wang Shu's Ningbo History Museum built from the remains of demolished villages. (2016).
Retrieved October 9, 2016, from
https://www.dezeen.com/2016/08/18/video-interview-wang-shu-amateur-architecture-studio-
ningbo-history-museum-movie/
Ningbo Historic Museum / Wang Shu, Amateur Architecture Studio. (2009). Retrieved
October 10, 2016, from
http://www.archdaily.com/14623/ningbo-historic-museum-wang-shu-architect
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Turnitin Plagirism Check

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