The Four East Asian Universities Urban & Architecture Design Workshop 2025
August 1-10, 2025
Theme: “Shipyard Community” – Renovation Planning and Architectural Design for Harbin Shipyard Industrial Zone
Host institute:
Harbin Institute of Technology (China)
Participating institutions:
Kanagawa University (Japan)
Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea)
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Thailand)
Following a currently established MoU between KMUTT SoA+D and other four East Asian universities since 2017, an annual student workshop and academic collaboration for a design study was agreed between the parties. The recent annual rotational workshops aim to develop the academic relationship between the Universities and strengthen the international orientation of SoA+D and its programs as the anticipated workshop is seen as a great opportunity for students to exchange their experiences with foreign equivalents, benefiting the students’ design and communication abilities.
With such tradition, this year 2025, School of Architecture Harbin Institute of Technology is the host. This year’s workshop theme is “Shipyard Community” – Renovation Planning and Architectural Design for Harbin Shipyard Industrial Zone. The city of Harbin is divided into two parts by the Songhua River, and the shipyard community is located in the central island of the Songhua River, It is in the city ‘s important north-south development corridor, at the core of the cultural tourism area. The site is surrounded by water on three sides. It is on the west of Binzhou Railway. There is only one road connected with the outside world. Residents use railways and ferries as t h e main mode of transportation. The old building with the most protective value in the community is the former site of the Northeast Merchant Shipping School built in 1926, which is a naval reserve school and the predecessor of Dalian Maritime University.
In addition, No.6 Navigation Street, Shipyard Workers ‘ Club, Waterline Monument and others also have high protection value.
As the brief for this site, one plot is selected from the three plots. According to the existing industrial heritage and the status quo of protected buildings, it is necessary to conduct a detailed investigation on the development of surrounding area. It is committed to preserving the unique urban landscape of Harbin, stimulating the vitality of the community in the plot. Utilizing and activating the excellent natural resources in the plot. Protect and renovate the architectural heritage in the plot. It is necessary to enhance the urban development value of the plot and achieve sustainable renewal under the current traffic restrictions.
During and after the workshop, students have visited old traditional Chinese architecture and old quarters as well as contemporary architecture of the city. Thus, this is a good opportunity for further collaboration and truly benefits both students and staffs. Also, the MoU between School of Architecture, HIT and SoA+D, KMUTT has been successfully signed.
Participating SoA+D instructors:
Asst. Prof. Kisnaphol Wattanawanyoo and Dr. Olivier Bellflamme
Participating SoA+D students:
Kavin Kitcharoenyuenyong, Udomsuk Manawongsakul, Ye Min Thet, Krittin Tanjariyaporn, Pahavarin Karnchanabatr, Pattaratorn Boonkerd, Sojirat Leerujanont, Pisuit Prayoonprokranun, Nay Oo, and Phone Min Khant
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