On March 24th, Prof. Liu Kecheng of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology was invited to give a meaningful lecture with the topic of ‘Dialogue with History: A Way of Design’ to UNNC teachers and students. As part of the ABE-SBE Talks series, the lecture was jointly organized by UNNC Department of Architecture and Built Environment (ABE) and Research Group of Sustainable Built Environment (SBE), with the assistance and participation of tutors and students from ABE. Before the lecture, Prof. Liu had an interview with Prof. Hua Li, Deputy Director of the Institute of Architectural History and Theory, School of Architecture, Southeast University, Associate Prof. Yat-Ming Loo and Associate Prof. Jing Xie of the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham Ningbo China. He also participated in the Old Bund City Walk organized by ABE students. Additionally, as the former dean of the School of Architecture in Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Professor Liu also shared his research and experience on education with Professor Tao Wu, the dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering of UNNC.

This lecture was hosted by Dr. Yat-ming Loo, and interpreted by Dr. Yu-Ting Tang on-site. International students and off-campus participants can watch the lectures simultaneously through the online conference platform. The lecture is mainly divided into three parts. Firstly, Prof. Liu showcased the significance of historical heritage and historical memory through talking about his own experience and thoughts about the society. What he had experienced in the western China contributed to his thinking and research towards relevant projects.

Then, taking his own works as examples, he showed the process of a good design from site analysis and design concept to design development and construction details,. Tang West Market Museum is one of his representative projects. The layout of Lifang and the checkerboard network of Chang 'an City in the Sui and Tang Dynasties are reproduced in the museum. With the exploration of the volume, texture and colour, the bustling scenes of the historic streets are restored.

"Respection, conversation and dialogue" are three key words that define Prof. Liu's attitude towards historical and cultural heritage. As he said, "Dialogue is a gesture of history. It aims to protect the integrity and authenticity of cultural heritage on the premise of respecting history, and it never ignores, judges, quarrels with, or imitates history. Dialogue is equal, which includes not only its affirmation of history, but also that of ourselves and this epoch. In addition, dialogue needs to highlight wisdom -- a wisdom that shows confidence, inclusiveness and innovation."

At the end of the lecture, Prof. Liu patiently answered the audiences’ questions and discussed with them, which brought the lecture to a climax in the collision of thinking. Students from the Department of Architecture asked Prof. Liu about the use of triangular elements in his works, the differences and similarities between designing a cultural heritage project and a residential transformation project, etc. Dr. Giaime Botti from the Department of Architecture also discussed with Prof. Liu about the balance between the architect's personal thought and the historical language in a historical heritage work.

Some students share their feelings after the lecture:

What touched me was that Prof. Liu's response to the site was not limited to simple and empty forms. The focus of the lecture is more on how the historical background is presented, and the story presented is even more wonderful than the architecture per se.

­——Mu Cao（Year 4 architecture student）

Time is a permanent topic, and Liu's architecture is like a time machine, allowing us to immerse ourselves in real historical scenes. The museum, a building type with no fixed definition, became the cloak of ancient relics in the hands of Liu. Therefore, it can be better protected and we also have the opportunity to have an intimate relationship with it.

——Rui Li（Year 4 architecture student）