HKU Professors Transform Traditional Chinese Underground Dwelling with 3D Printing and Brick Vaults
Three professors from the University of Hong Kong—John Lin, Olivier Ottevaere, and Lidia Ratoi—along with students, have completed a major renovation of a traditional underground house in Zhangbian Township, Henan Province, China. The project, called Underground House of the Future, reimagines the historic 'dikengyuan' cave dwelling by incorporating 3D-printed concrete terraces, complex brick vaults, and a tensile net canopy. Funded by the Project Mingde Foundation and developed with local authorities, the redesign aims to enhance safety, climate resilience, and community utility, transforming the home into a versatile event space. The initiative responds to challenges like extreme rainfall, which damaged many such structures in 2021, and seeks to preserve cultural heritage while introducing modern adaptations. A model was displayed at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Key facts
- The project is a complete rebuild of a traditional underground house in Zhangbian Township, Henan Province, China.
- It was led by University of Hong Kong professors John Lin, Olivier Ottevaere, and Lidia Ratoi with student involvement.
- Key features include 3D-printed terraces for flood resistance, complex brick vaults for larger interiors, and a tensile net canopy.
- Funding was provided by the Project Mingde Foundation under HKU's civil engineering department, in partnership with local officials.
- The redesign aims to address climate change threats and repurpose the dwelling as a community event space.
Entities
Artists
- John Lin
- Olivier Ottevaere
- Lidia Ratoi
Institutions
- University of Hong Kong
- Project Mingde Foundation
Locations
- Zhangbian Township
- Henan Province
- China
- Venice