PUBLIC DEFENCE – Yiping Zhang

“Collective Spaces in Workers’ Villages in Northeast China: A Critical Socio- spatial Analysis of the Village of Powers in Harbin.”

  • Date: 3 July 2024
  • Location: Campus Sint-Lucas, Hoogstraat 51, 9000 Ghent, room 142
  • Timing: 5 p.m. CET

 

Abstract

Workers’ villages are collective housing districts built for industrial employees and their families during the early period of New China. Collective spaces in workers’ villages were a crucial mainstay for the novel socialist lifestyle in the 1950s to 1970s period. Since the nationwide reforms initiated in 1978, the once-exclusive workers’ villages have undergone significant changes in many aspects, which have put and are putting pressure on the original private and collective spaces. This doctoral project focuses on collective spaces in workers’ villages situated in Northeast China. From the socio-spatial perspective, this research, based on a historical examination, aims to uncover contemporary societal activities and dwelling practices within the workers’ Village of Powers in Harbin. The insights provided by this project can contribute to the future development of workers’ villages.

Jury

Supervisors

Prof. dr. Yves Schoonjans (supervisor, KU Leuven)
Prof. dr. Gisèle Gantois (co-supervisor, KU Leuven)

Assessors

Prof. dr. Thomas Coomans de Brachène (KU Leuven)
Prof. dr. Chao-Ching Fu (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan)

External members
Prof. dr. Aleksandra Djukić, (University of Belgrade)

Prof. dr. Els Vervloesem (KU Leuven)

Chair
Prof. dr. Dominique Bauer (KU Leuven)

The Village of Powers, Harbin. Source: drawn by Yiping Zhang.