Conference Venue

Conference place:

Singapore University of Technology and Design

8 Somapah Road

Singapore, 487372

Auditorium

Exhibition:

Campus Center

Conference Reception Place:

Jackie Chan's Heritage Houses in SUTD Campus

This main hall originates from Datong Town, Jiande City of Zhejiang Province, China. It was said that the original residence, consisting of an entrance hall, main hall and rear hall, belonged to the Chen family whose forebears were of the literati class. With the decline of the family's fortunes, the residence fell into disrepair and only the main hall has survived.

The scale of the timber components in this hall is larger than similar structures of the same period. The diameter of the main beams measures approximately 700 mm and the craftsmanship of the structure with its simple and elegantshapes is outstanding. The structure is essentially constructed with camphor wood (Cinnamomum camphora) and has previously undergone a 4-month restoration in the 1990s.

A vemacular residential structure is located at the rear of the main hall. This vernacular residential structure originates from Duze Town, Quzhou City of Zhejiang Province, China. The beams in the structure are rectangular in section, which is relatively uncommon. It is constructed with local timber, mainly of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) and the inner columns constructed with Chinese catalpa or azusa (Catalpa ovate). Parts of the carved components are badly degraded which resulted in a 6-month restoration in the 1990s.

In this recent restoration, the two structures were integrated and organized to form the configuration of having the hall in front and living quarters/bed chambers in the rear. Such an arrangement is in accordance to the spatial order of traditional Chinese architecture. The duration of the restoration lasted approximately 1 year and was completed in December 2014.

The main hall is named《堂正堂》, which means Hall of Uprightness. It is hoped that the name will inspire the university community to be honourable, righteous and conscientious.

The rear structure is name《斋心斋》, which means Hall of the Fasting of the Mind. The term 心斋 or Fasting of the Mind originates from the Taoist book Liezi《列子·黄帝》, alluding to the removal of desires and the purification of the mind.

Both the main hall and vernacular residential structure were donated to Singapore by Mr. Jackie Chan in 2009.