Fujian Tulous, China
Masterpiece of Rammed Earth Architecture
Many of the Tulou in Fujian are steadily deteriorating due to exposure and a lack of conservation.
The area of Shengwu lou faces unplanned development and pollution of the natural surroundings in the nearby Lu Stream. A planned national highway, whereby the Luxi township will become the main gateway to all the tulou in the region, threatens to bring a large volume of traffic and speculative development to this otherwise peaceful rural town.
The tulous have suffered from neglect and active defacement during the period of the Cultural Revolution. In addition, the disappearance of a traditional lifestyle and high rural unemployment rates have led to young people moving to nearby big cities like Xiamen in search of better opportunities. The historical and social factors, in combination with occasional natural disasters such as the annual typhoon, resulted in many of the structures’ integrity being compromised and their decorative details left in a state of great disrepair that requires immediate attention to ensure their long-term survival.
Previous neglect has also led to human-made problems such as vandalism, fire and stealing of the decorative panels. Regrettably, as residents began to move out of the tulou to more modern buildings or more developed regions, some of the decorative elements were being stolen. Recently, modern development has led to some inappropriate new constructions on the west and northeast of Shengwu lou. The immediate surroundings of the structure are messy due to unplanned construction of toilets, pigsties, and trash disposal.
