The not-for-profit Rural Urban Framework designs houses, hospitals, schools and other essential buildings for rural communities in China. The staircase at the Mulan Primary School forms part of the playground, though it can also be used for school assemblies and village meetings.
Mulan Primary School in Guangdong province —
The not-for-profit Rural Urban Framework designs houses, hospitals, schools and other essential buildings for rural communities in China. The staircase at the Mulan Primary School forms part of the playground, though it can also be used for school assemblies and village meetings.
Rural urban framework
Rural Urban Framework reconfigured this whole school site to link new and existing buildings through a series of outdoor spaces, including playgrounds and open-air classrooms.
Mulan Primary School in Guangdong province —
Rural Urban Framework reconfigured this whole school site to link new and existing buildings through a series of outdoor spaces, including playgrounds and open-air classrooms.
rural urban framework
This house in Shaanxi province is a prototype of a modern mud-brick courtyard house.
"House for All Seasons" in Shaanxi province —
This house in Shaanxi province is a prototype of a modern mud-brick courtyard house.
Rural Urban Framework
Bolchover and Lin designed the Yongxin Secondary School so that it could be adapted -- possibly by other architects -- for different communities. "Other architects don't want to be copied, but we love to be copied," Lin says.
Yongxin Secondary School (prototype) —
Bolchover and Lin designed the Yongxin Secondary School so that it could be adapted -- possibly by other architects -- for different communities. "Other architects don't want to be copied, but we love to be copied," Lin says.
rural urban framework
Designed to blend into the surrounding rice terraces, the classrooms of the Qinmo Primary School are hidden beneath a staircase that rises from the basketball court.
Qinmo Primary School in Guangdong province —
Designed to blend into the surrounding rice terraces, the classrooms of the Qinmo Primary School are hidden beneath a staircase that rises from the basketball court.
rural urban framework
Angdong Hospital's facade is made from concrete blocks with holes punched through their centers. The blocks -- seen here on display at the Milan Triennial in 2016 -- were designed in collaboration with local manufacturers in Angdong.
Angdong Hospital in Hunan province —
Angdong Hospital's facade is made from concrete blocks with holes punched through their centers. The blocks -- seen here on display at the Milan Triennial in 2016 -- were designed in collaboration with local manufacturers in Angdong.
Rural Urban Framework
Angdong Hospital's angular, futuristic roof terrace contrasts with the traditional tiled roofs in the surrounding village.
Angdong Hospital in Hunan province —
Angdong Hospital's angular, futuristic roof terrace contrasts with the traditional tiled roofs in the surrounding village.
Rural Urban Framework
A wide, winding ramp connects the three floors of Angdong Hospital. One of the key features of the project is its perforated facade, which floods the space with natural light.
Angdong Hospital in Hunan province —
A wide, winding ramp connects the three floors of Angdong Hospital. One of the key features of the project is its perforated facade, which floods the space with natural light.
Rural Urban Framework
RUF's founders, Joshua Bolchover and John Lin, won the International Emerging Architect prize from the Royal Institute of British Architects' for their work on Angdong Hospital, in China's Hunan province.
Angdong Hospital in Hunan province —
RUF's founders, Joshua Bolchover and John Lin, won the International Emerging Architect prize from the Royal Institute of British Architects' for their work on Angdong Hospital, in China's Hunan province.
Rural Urban Framework
For this "recycled brick school", Bolchover and Lin collected bricks from nearby demolition sites and used them to build ground paving and a screen wall.
Tongjiang Primary School in Jianxi province —
For this "recycled brick school", Bolchover and Lin collected bricks from nearby demolition sites and used them to build ground paving and a screen wall.
Rural urban framework
Rural Urban Framework is reconstructing Jintai Village, which was flattened by landslides during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The new houses are constructed using local materials and will be finished this July.
Redesigning Jintai Village in Sichuan province —
Rural Urban Framework is reconstructing Jintai Village, which was flattened by landslides during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The new houses are constructed using local materials and will be finished this July.
Rural Urban Framework
During the planning process, RUF builds intricate models of all their projects. "We take models to the villagers to see," says co-founder John Lin. "We can then work with them, in person, on elements of the design. It's become an interesting form of communication."
Redesigning Jintai Village in Sichuan province —
During the planning process, RUF builds intricate models of all their projects. "We take models to the villagers to see," says co-founder John Lin. "We can then work with them, in person, on elements of the design. It's become an interesting form of communication."
Rural Urban Framework
The new houses in Jintai Village feature stepped roofs. With limited land available to villagers, the inverted roofs give residents extra space to grow crops.
Redesigning Jintai Village in Sichuan province —
The new houses in Jintai Village feature stepped roofs. With limited land available to villagers, the inverted roofs give residents extra space to grow crops.
Rural Urban Framework
This bridge connects a village with a walnut orchard on the other side of a river, helping villagers to harvest and transport their crops.
The Lingzidi Bridge in Shaanxi province —
This bridge connects a village with a walnut orchard on the other side of a river, helping villagers to harvest and transport their crops.
Rural urban framework
RUF have developed a "plug-in" ger which retains the characteristics of a traditional tent, while offering access to electricity and sewage networks. A Mongolian couple will move into the first prototype this summer.
'Plug-in Ger' —
RUF have developed a "plug-in" ger which retains the characteristics of a traditional tent, while offering access to electricity and sewage networks. A Mongolian couple will move into the first prototype this summer.
Rural Urban Framework
Bolchover and Lin are currently working in Mongolia, where they are creating upgraded versions of nomads' traditional tents (or 'gers'). The duo's early experiments with these structures were exhibited at the Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2016.
Exhibition view at the 2016 Venice Biennale of Architecture —
Bolchover and Lin are currently working in Mongolia, where they are creating upgraded versions of nomads' traditional tents (or 'gers'). The duo's early experiments with these structures were exhibited at the Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2016.
Rural Urban Framework