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What are the defining qualities of China's current homegrown architectural pioneers, and how might they next evolve? Murray Fraser, Professor of Architecture and Global Culture and Vice‐Dean of Research at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, charts the background of design research from its Western roots, and investigates how recent generations of Chinese architects have been taking it in a new direction – from Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu's Amateur Architecture Studio to Atelier Deshaus, Atelier Archmixing and TAO (Trace Architecture Office). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three major approaches to generic construction tested since the advent of prefabrication - element assemblage, layer stratification and module composition - all maintain a separation between manufacturing and assembly. Autonomous assembly, in contrast, coalesces these into a single method of collective production. But - as Andong Lu, Professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, argues - for such innovative approaches to inspire the future of architecture, it is crucial to connect technology, design and people, based on a comprehensive understanding of construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid China's snowballing commercial success, feeding and housing the burgeoning population may be a challenge, but it is also a great urbanistic opportunity. With the right approach, it is possible to couple new urban development with land-use practices that are sustainable on both human and environmental levels. Zhangdu Lake Farm ecological village, by GRO Architects in association with the New Jersey Institute of Technology, is a case in point. Guest-Editor and GRO Principal Richard Garber describes how a combination of community engagement, digital technologies and green thinking are guiding its evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]