Dabao Primary School and Cultural Community Centre

Dabao village is remotely situated within the scenic mountains of Guangxi province in China. This isolated settlement provides a home to an ethnic minority group, the 'Yaos'. Due to their seclusion and poverty, the village lacked a safe environment for the children to learn. Thus, this non-profit project aimed at providing the Yaos with a primary school, which at the same time serves as a community centre. The design and construction process was a reciprocal exchange in culture, knowledge and skills resulting in a design that responds to and shows a deep understanding of the people and place.