A demonstration house in the Guanzhuang Township used to train local builders on-site in the techniques of wood-frame construction.
One year after the devastating Sichuan earthquake the first wood-frame houses constructed of B.C. wood are now being completed in China.
This 124 square metre demonstration house is located in the Guanzhuang Township and was used to train local builders on-site in the techniques of wood-frame construction. Local builders, used to working with brick and concrete, are now recognizing the superior strength and earthquake resistance of wood-frame construction. For the first time ever B.C. lumber sales to China are rivaling those to Japan, partly due to historically low lumber prices, but also due to joint industry/government projects like these that are opening up markets for B.C. wood products in Asia.
There were similar stories after the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995 in Japan.
The only problem with the house pictured above is that it does not look “Chinese.” I think a better more “Asian” design would sell better, perhaps something like these windows;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steenheilesen/229801050/
would help.