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Sustainability, technology and contemporary design have become some of key trends shaping the future of global design. One outstanding example of this is Qingshan Village in Hangzhou, which has blended environmental conservation, modern design, Chinese culture and traditions into its urban planning. This initiative not only exemplifies China's innovative capabilities in sustainable development but also its leading position in the design industry, offering both inspiration and valuable reference point for Hong Kong and the rest of the world.

The origin story of Qingshan Village

Qingshan Village is located in Huanghu Town in the northwest corner of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, approximately an hour's drive from Hangzhou city. Surrounded by lush green mountains and clear waterways, almost 80% of this area is covered by forests.

When global environmental organisation The Nature Conservancy was managing the Longwu Reservoir in 2015 — a drinking water source for Qingshan Village — they discovered fertilisers and herbicides had contaminated the water. After this discovery, China's first rural water source protection project was implemented here, resulting in the reservoir's water quality reaching the national Grade I standard within three years. With a new source of clean and local water, the villagers of Qingshan now have easy access to high-quality drinking water.

In the wake of this success, The Nature Conservancy ambitiously pursued more rural small water source protection projects. With the assistance of village cadres, they used over ¥300,000 from the Free Foundation to lease more than 500 acres of bamboo forest from 43 farmers, allowing the natural environment to self-recover and turn into a lush forest. The remarkable results of Qingshan Village's water source protection project gained widespread attention, leading more people to rediscover the village's almost forgotten natural beauty.

Individuals or groups focused on public welfare, sustainability, art design and traditional craftsmanship have been drawn to Qingshan Village's verdant environment and have come to dive in further. They have successively settled here, using their own expertise to build one vibrant space after another in the village.

Qingshan Village officially began its renewal journey through the opportunity provided by the water source protection, gradually developing a rural revitalisation path supported by nature conservation, ecological tourism and traditional craftsmanship.

Its development has been active and purpose-driven, enriching local cultures by perfectly integrating and promoting sustainable development through contemporary design. This transformation has allowed people worldwide to be inspired by its ambiance and natural wonder.

A design landmark: The construction of the Rong Design Library

In 2010, three renowned designers, Zhang Lei, Jovana Zhang and Christoph John, who founded the PINWU Design Studio, met in Milan and later came to Hangzhou to study local traditions and craftwork.

In 2014, The Nature Conservancy invited them to Qingshan Village. Alongside their design team, PINWU, they taught craftsmanship to the villagers, laying the foundation for future collaborations. By 2015, the team established China's first traditional materials library, the Rong Design Library, which was dedicated to cataloguing and preserving traditional Chinese materials for global artists and designers. Originally an abandoned and dilapidated building called Dongwu Hall, the site transformed into Rong Design Library under the vision of designer Zhang Lei and his team, who spent a year revamping it meticulously. They seamlessly integrated the preservation of nature and the spirit of Chinese folk tradition into contemporary design spaces.

In 2018, the PINWU designers began practising craftsmanship in Qingshan Village, teaching practical skills like gold net weaving and carving. This initiative not only replaced bamboo forest cultivation, purifying water sources, but also provided villagers with eco-friendly income. The artworks gained recognition and were featured in art exhibitions.

"Based on the deconstruction research of traditional Chinese craftsmanship and materials, we subvert traditional design language, promote the regeneration of traditional crafts and create contemporary design works, which we call Future Tradition."

After more than a decade of efforts, the Rong Design Library completed a nationwide craft survey and continues to attract global designers and environmentalists. More than 30 domestic and international designers now reside in Qingshan Village.

The library's operations are strategic and enduring. Since its inception, the three curators initiated an annual Rong-resident Designer Plan, which invites international designers to mainland China for a month-long residency. During this residency, they can conduct research and craft designs based on traditional Chinese crafts and materials. This programme connects designers and craftsmen from different cultures and fields through on-site crafts exploration, design creation, prototyping and production. They complete a piece or a set of work during their residency.

Since 2015, more than 50 designers from different countries and regions have participated in the programme, including Belgium, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Japan, Germany, Italy, Thailand, the United States, Portugal, Spain and Hong Kong. In 2023, the library relaunched the Rong-resident Designer Plan and, along with the SaloneSatellite, initiated the Rong Design Award 2023. This relaunch helped spread the design philosophy of Rong globally.

In recent years, with an increasing interest in rural lifestyles, Qingshan Village has become a popular destination for young people. Alongside the contemporary design atmosphere created by the Rong Design Library and its projects, the village presents an intriguing contrast to hectic city life. Amid today's bustling urban pace, this serene land has become a utopia for many city dwellers and an oasis for young people, designers and artists.

Qingshan Village serves as a blueprint for rural revitalisation that can inspire community-centric, sustainable development projects globally.