Zhang Erke: Catching Up from Behind

The happiest thing for a designer is undoubtedly to see his work on display for the public, bringing other people happiness. In the exploration of idealistic and realistic, Zhang Erke grew from ignorance to maturity, from idealistic to realistic, from perplexity to clarity.

Study and Scientific Research

When he first entered the university, Zhang Erke was underperforming, experiencing a downturn in both his study and personal life. Fortunately, he went to the Louna Village in theSouthwest Guizhou Autonomous Prefectureto participate in an international university construction competition. In that simple, unsophisticated and traditional village, he realized that as a student of Tianjin University and a future designer, he shares the responsibility to realize the dream for China’s future. When he participated in the practice of design and construction in that rural area, he integrated into the village with a gentle attitude, based on the design knowledge that he had learned. He focused on the rural culture from an academic point of view and carried out rural construction with the architectural art.

In order to preserve nostalgia, he came with his own understanding of the countryside, itching to test his creativity and enthusiasm in construction. Walking in the countryside, he felt that the silent earth accepted his design with the most generous mind. Working with the local handicraftsmen and traditional craftsmen with his enthusiasm for architecture, he realized the wisdom of people from the experience of craftwork passed down from generation to generation. Zhang Erke contemplated carefully and cautiously, devoting his strength to the search for a sustainable model for a real revival in the rural area. Finally, he caught the vision of what could be, he felt that he could do more in the process of realizing his ideal.

Afterwards, following the belief of "cherish the time, make progress, and never give up", Zhangrededicated himself to his studies and caught up from behind. He improved his academic grades and his comprehensive evaluation from last to second place in his major, and he was recommended without examination for admission to study as a postgraduate student at Tianjin University.

Zhang Erke took part in many projects such as the renovation and landscape design of Qi Jiguang’s hometown. He has also won lots of awards in many competitions with his excellent works, including many first, second, and third prizes in such events as national exhibitions and international competitions. He also earned the award of "Advanced Individuals in Social Practice of Tianjin University". Since he was admitted to the university, he has produced nearly 100 professional paintings and created more than10 outstanding designs.

Association Activities

Since he joined the student society, Zhang Erke has organized over 100 activities such as celebrating the 120th anniversary of Tianjin University and the 2018 TJU Crabapple Blossom Festival, attracting widespread attention and responses both inside and outside the university, and reported by the media many times. As a result, he has received such honors as the outstanding member of the Student Union of the School of Architecture and the advanced individual in association activities.

Community Service

Zhang Erke also played an active role in community service and voluntary activities to serve society in broad areas from Guizhou in the south, to Harbin in the north, Qinghai in the west, and Huzhou in the east in the form of research on people’s livelihood, professional practice, construction, visits and exchanges and so on. Since his first year he has participated in various kinds ofvoluntaryservice to fulfill his social responsibility as a contemporary college student. He spent nearly a month volunteering in the Southwest Guizhou Autonomous Prefecture. Making use of his professional knowledge, Zhang Erke carefully studied the local people’s livelihood and conditions and participated in the local rural rejuvenation. In addition, he actively joined the project team. To date, he has taken part in more than 20 projects. He has been trying to make life better through the power of design.

“I have a dream— to optimize our lives with my designs, to create unlimited possibilities with limited space and to achieve the home of our dreams,” he said.

By: Cui Jingyue

Editors: Keith Harrington, Sun Xiaofang