Congcong Ren

advisor

Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture

China

My work centers on the history of architectural technology, with a particular focus on the techniques and cultural dimensions of traditional East Asian timber architecture, as well as the theory and practice of contemporary cultural heritage conservation. Alongside this primary research trajectory, I have long been interested in architectural phenomenology and have translated Juhani Pallasmaa’s trilogy into Chinese.In architectural education, I teach both first-year and third-year courses. The first year emphasizes fundamental training, while the third year is organized around research-oriented design projects. These projects guide students through contextual investigations—paying particular attention to cultural, community, and sustainability aspects—as well as technical inquiries that familiarize them with applicable construction methods and potential innovations. I encourage students to approach design with creativity informed by both cultural and technical perspectives.Additionally, I lead an intensive two-week course on the survey and documentation of historic buildings. This course immerses students in the lived experience of premodern architecture, allowing them to encounter historical modes of building firsthand and reflect on what may be absent in contemporary life.