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The National Engineering Research Center for Housing and Residential Environment (hereinafter referred to as the "National Housing Engineering Center"), the National Housing Science and Technology Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the "Housing Alliance"), and other organizations jointly held the "15th International Forum on Healthy Housing Theory and Practice" in Chengdu on November 28-29, 2024.
The forum, themed "Technology Empowering Healthy and Good Housing," was attended by Mr. Xiu Long, Chairman of the Architectural Society of China, and Mr. Han Aixing, former Deputy Director of the Department of Standards and Norms of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, who delivered speeches.
Let us join hands to promote the high-quality development of the housing industry.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Xiu Long, Chairman of the Architectural Society of China , said that over the past 46 years of reform and opening up, China's housing construction has achieved remarkable results, and people's living standards have undergone tremendous changes. Housing construction has shifted from focusing on quantity to focusing on quality. Meeting the housing quality needs of the Chinese people is the glorious mission of all of us present here.
In late December 2023, at the National Housing and Urban-Rural Development Work Conference, it was proposed that "good housing is the foundation, and the Party and the State attach great importance to the quality of life of the people. The 14th Five-Year Plan has clear requirements for urban construction and the creation of a happy life for the people."
The organizer, the National Housing Engineering Center, is a research institution that has been established for 30 years. It has consistently integrated housing research with major national strategic needs. Over the years, the National Housing Engineering Center has invited experts from disciplines such as medicine, sports science, hygiene, and psychology to the construction field to conduct multidisciplinary and interdepartmental open research, and to introduce internationally advanced technologies to China. Currently, the center's "Technical Regulations for Healthy Housing Construction" has been completed to its sixth edition, and the "Evaluation Standards for Healthy Housing" to its third edition. Since 2002, the center has also been exploring pilot projects for healthy housing construction based on residential communities. As of October 2024, 62 pilot healthy housing projects have been built in 44 cities across the country, covering an area of over 30 million square meters, with 15 projects passing completion acceptance and becoming healthy housing demonstration projects.
With societal development, higher demands are being placed on the housing industry, and many new areas of study and exploration remain. Given my country's vast territory and uneven economic development, it is necessary to conduct detailed research on different types of housing, such as commercial housing, public rental housing, rural housing, and existing housing, to meet the actual needs of the people for healthy living. Healthy and good housing requires support from scientific planning and design, reliable technology, high-quality products, and intelligent operation and maintenance. Technological innovation is a core element in developing new productive forces, and the continuous feedback, improvement, and updating of scientific and technological achievements will continuously drive the housing industry towards high-quality development.
After 40 years of rapid development, my country has entered a period of adjustment and encountered many difficulties. Only through everyone's participation can we elevate our vision to a higher level. We hope to unite all professionals in the health industry, using construction as a vehicle, and leveraging the platforms of the National Housing Engineering Center and the Housing Alliance to propel our cause to new heights. Ultimately, we aim to deliver our houses and products to every ordinary citizen, allowing them to truly experience social progress, the nation's care, and the Party's concern, ultimately improving their quality of life.
Integrating the essence of traditional housing into healthy housing
In his opening remarks, Mr. Han Aixing, former deputy director of the Department of Standards and Norms of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said that General Secretary Xi Jinping said, "Our urban and rural construction should have a historical perspective, international standards, and Chinese characteristics." China has a long history of housing, and how to absorb the advantages of traditional Chinese housing, especially the essence of its layout, will greatly improve the quality of healthy housing.
He stated that the forum's theme and concept were excellent. "Healthy Housing" primarily comprises three key words. The first is "health," a crucial goal pursued throughout life and an enduring human endeavor. The second is "housing," referring to the most basic space people use for production and daily life. The third, "healthy housing," incorporates the traditional Chinese Five Elements theory into architectural theory, which I find commendable. I would like to offer a few suggestions.
First, we must conduct in-depth theoretical research on healthy housing. We need to comprehensively and thoroughly study the concept of healthy housing-not just "healthy" or "housing," but "healthy housing"-and understand the relationship between its modifiers and its scope. Second, we must develop plans. Healthy housing should not only be an academic research area but also a practical endeavor. This work requires planning, even if it's just a rough outline, it needs a development plan. We also need to build a technical framework. Currently, healthy housing already has a good framework, but it should be improved and readjusted, especially in conjunction with the spatial layout of traditional historical housing. Third, we must strengthen organizational and capacity building, and learn from the promotion methods of developed countries.
Finally, it is hoped that the theories and technologies of healthy housing can be promoted throughout China, so that all Chinese people can live in such "good houses" as soon as possible.
Poetic Living in the New Era – The Documentary Series "Healthy Housing" Released
This forum launched the documentary series "Healthy Housing." After nearly a year of planning and implementation, the National Housing Engineering Center, keeping pace with the times and constantly exploring, delves into the commonalities and unique characteristics of healthy housing across different climate zones and housing types in my country through real-life cases. The production team, upholding a spirit of craftsmanship, meticulously planned, filmed, and produced the series, striving to make it a high-quality work that disseminates the concept of healthy housing construction and presents viewers with a wonderful experience of comfortable and healthy "good houses."
At the forum, several experts and scholars delivered insightful speeches focusing on four key aspects: health, intelligence, green development, and technology. Ms. Zhang Lei, Director of the National Housing Engineering Center, introduced China's first systematic evaluation standard describing the health performance of residential buildings, the "Evaluation Standard for Healthy Housing" T/CECS462 (hereinafter referred to as the "Standard"). The Standard was initiated in 2014, officially promulgated and implemented in 2017, and is scheduled for revision and implementation in 2024. This standard involves cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary systematic research, is adapted to China's social and economic development level, reflects the characteristics of Chinese architecture and lifestyle, and emphasizes guiding the formation of healthy lifestyles. It covers six dimensions: space, air, water, sound, light, and health promotion, and has been upgraded from 22 evaluation sub-items and 115 evaluation points to 20 evaluation sub-items and 121 evaluation points. Through years of engineering practice and application, the evaluation system structure has been further optimized and updated, with evaluation indicators and clauses upgraded to keep pace with the times, adapting to industry and social development, and further enhancing its operability.
On November 29th, attendees visited and inspected the Sino-Ocean Group's healthy residential project, "Sino-Ocean Forest Retreat." The project, from the selection of therapeutic plants in the community and the choice of materials with healthy properties, to the control of indoor air pollutants and the strict construction management methods, all demonstrate Sino-Ocean Group's exploration and practice in healthy housing. In today's critical period of transformation and upgrading in the real estate market, healthy "good houses" are the "key" to the sustainable development of the real estate industry.
Healthy housing requires support from scientific planning and design, reliable technology, high-quality products, and intelligent operation and maintenance. Continuous feedback, improvement, and updates of scientific and technological achievements will drive the housing industry towards high-quality development. The National Housing Center and the Housing Alliance hope to work together with all sectors of society to support theoretical research and technological innovation in my country's healthy housing and related industries, expand the service industry chain for healthy housing, and promote the application of green, healthy, and intelligent technologies and the high-quality development of good housing.
(Contributed by the Housing Alliance Secretariat)
Note: This article is reprinted from the Residential Technology Industry Alliance.