On 30 May 2026, the conference “A New Paradigm in Contemporary Chinese Architecture” was held at Xi’an Jiaotong University’s iHarbour campus, in the auditorium of the Milan Building. The event was organised by the School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering and co-organised by the XJTU-POLIMI Joint School. It was part of the inaugural event of the Professional Committee on Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Design of the Shaanxi Civil Engineering and Architecture Society and brought together professors, professionals, international experts, and students for an afternoon of discussion on architectural transformation, urban regeneration, and the future of design in China.
The opening session featured Yang Peng, Party Secretary of XJTU, Zhai Binqing, Vice Dean of the School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, and Zhao Xiaoqin, representative of the Shaanxi Civil Engineering and Architecture Society (XSCEAS). The session was moderated by Xu Yishan, Associate Professor at XJTU.
The academic forum included three prominent contemporary Chinese architects: Wang Hui, founding partner of URBANUS Architecture & Design, Gong Dong, founder of Vector Architects, and He Jianxiang, founding partner of O-Office Architects. Invited by Professor Pierre-Alain Croset of Politecnico di Milano, the three architects presented different yet complementary perspectives on working with existing buildings, urban regeneration, and redefining the relationship between architecture, memory, landscape, and everyday life.
A central contribution to the conference was made by Professor Croset himself, who opened the forum by framing the theme of the “new paradigm” in contemporary Chinese architecture. In his introductory remarks, Croset underlined how some of the most significant design experiences in China today show a shift from the logic of demolition and replacement toward an approach based on transformation, reuse, and dialogue with the existing built environment. He also stressed the importance of reading these projects not only for their architectural quality, but also as expressions of a broader change in the way architecture is conceived.
Academic dialogue between Italy and China was further strengthened by the participation of Professor Stamatina Kousidi and Professor Gerardo Semprebon, who took part in the discussions with the Chinese architects, creating valuable moments of direct exchange between design practice and academic reflection.
In conclusion, the seminar represented an important opportunity for international discussion on the themes of reuse, regeneration, and innovation in design, confirming the value of the collaboration between Politecnico di Milano and Xi’an Jiaotong University, as well as the role of the XJTU-POLIMI Joint School as a platform for academic dialogue between Italy and China.
