Xinyi Natural School was instigated by the Lao He Gou Nature Preservation Centre with In-situ Project in collaboration with the local community. This is an on-going community-based development project aiming at integrated social and natural sustainability. The school is located in Xinyi Valley, a natural preservation and former hunting area in Pingwu County, in north-east Sichuan. The primary construction consisted of meeting hall, kitchen and bathroom was completed in winter 2020. Since March 2019, the design team conducted five visits which included on-site asset-mapping workshops and story oral history gathering, presentation of design options and making 1:1 construction tests. The final frame up process involved over 20 villagers. Working towards low-impact construction has meant that over 50% of building materials are collected within 200 meters radius from the site, including 100% of structure and 30% of log wall (in surface area). A tilted roof allows more daylighting for indoor activities; the log wood wall provides better indoor thermal comfort compared with normal brick wall; Toilet waste will be diverted into septic tank for fertilization of nearby farmland. The new constructed space will be operated as a live in natural education base, it will promote and disseminate conservation and preservation knowledge, promote local culture, knowledge and stories and further generate revenue for community.
