On the afternoon of 11th July, the “Advanced Course on Conservation and Restoration Techniques of Traditional Architecure for the Asia-Pacific Region” was successfully held in collaboration with WHITRAP Suzhou and ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. Mr. WANG Changgen, the Executive Chairman of Traditional Architecture Conservation Union of WHITRAP, Mr. XUE Zhijian, Director of WHITRAP Suzhou, Professor ZHU Guangya from the School of Architecture of Southeast University, Ms. Simona SALVO, the lecturer from ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, as well as a number of conservation and restoration experts had attended this closing ceremony.

Under the theme of “Conservation and Restoration of Historic Districts and Ancient Architectures”, this 10-day workshop was the sixth “Advanced Course on Conservation and Restoration Techniques of Traditional Architecture for the Asia-Pacific Region” and designated to provide professional trainings targeting at the issues commonly existed in Asia-Pacific Region for professionals working in the field of architectural conservation in World Heritage sites in Asia-Pacific Region, from the aging workforce of traditional architectures, dying-out of traditional craftsmanship, shortage in education and training system, incompetence in theory, to the new materials emerged in modern development, integration of high-end technology into architectural conservation, and so on, in order to facilitate the consistent progress of architectural conservation and restoration in World Heritage sites within Asia-Pacific Region.

Coming from Australia, Malaysia as well as China’s municipalities and provinces including Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hunan etc, more than 20 participants who engaged in the field of architectural restoration, conservation and management , had partaken this advanced course. Course content was arranged based on a variety of teaching formats, which could be ranged from lectures, case studies, site visits, hands-on experience, group work to discussion, so as to ensure the succinct interchanges between participants and teachers throughout the course.