LeNS China:A Chinese learning network on sustainability for the development and diffusion of teaching materials and tools on design for sustainability

It is a shared opinion that sustainable development requires a system discontinuity, meaning that radical changes in the way we produce and consume are needed. Within this framework there is an emerging understanding that an important contribution to this change can be directly linked to decisions taken in the design phase of products, services and systems. Design schools have therefore to be able to provide design students with a broad knowledge and effective Design for Sustainability tools, in order to enable a new generation of designers in playing an active role in re-orienting our consumption and production patterns. This paper presents the intermediate results of the LeNS China, the Learning Network on Sustainability of Chinese design Higher Education Institutions aiming at curricula development on Design for Sustainability. The project is a regeneration of the LeNS Asian-European multi-polar network project financed by the European Commission. LeNS China is taking in consideration the local needs, interests and opportunities could represent a significant enabling platform capable to sensitise, support and empower a new generation of Chinese design educators, designers and entrepreneurs to reach design practice throughout an open collaborative learning approach. The paper will firstly introduce the LeNS project and its ethos, and then the LeNS China network will be described in terms of the state of the art of design for sustainability and its education in China, the scope and the objective, the results achieved so far and the next steps.

“Inhabiting” Moderately with an Eco-design Philosophy

The environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth by Mr. AI Core in 2006 has revealed the evil conditions that startle our spirits nakedly...increasing carbon dioxide emission, plastic bags, dwarf forest, desertification, etc. It is the pursuit of fundamental merits and moderate living that urges designers to initiate and contribute to the eco-friendly practice globally. The use of environmental materials like wood, paper and cotton reflects their loyalty to ego and their responsibility to the future, while the choice of consumers mirrors the aesthetic interest of the society.

Functional Features and Layouts of Yangzhou Residential Gardens in the Late Qing Dynasty and the Early Republic of China: A Case Study of Residential Gardens of Officials, Merchants and Literati

On the basis of analyzing socio-economic structures, social classes and their relations in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, this paper took residential gardens of three principal groups(officials, merchants and literati) for example, analyzed functional features and layouts of the gardens, explored artistic characteristics and cultural connotations of the local residential gardens, so as to provide references for the conservation and construction of historic and cultural cities, design and expression of modern urban livable spaces.

Study on the Sustainable Development of Rural Landscape in the UK:Take the Cotswolds as an Example

With the acceleration of globalization and urbanization,rural areas in China,particularly traditional villages have been faced with various problems and the development bottleneck.On the contrary,rural areas in the UK are well-known for picturesque scenery and outstanding characteristics,and able to maintain the sustainable vitality and charm in economy and culture,rural areas in the UK make successful examples for the global rural construction and development.This paper took Cotswolds in the UK for example,analyzed the maintenance and continuation of traditional rural landscapes in the UK from the perspectives of natural scenery,overall layout,folk dwellings,yard plants and so on.On the other hand,the paper explored the all-around sustainable development of rural landscapes in the UK from the perspectives of internal drives such as intangible cultural confidence,production mode,economic foundation and environmental protection.The study tried to provide references for the sustainable development of rural landscapes in China.