People as Infrastructure: The Architectural Wisdom of Informality
| Dates: | 16 April 2026 |
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| Times: | 18:00 - 19:00 |
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| What is it: | Talk |
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| Organiser: | School of Arts, Languages and Cultures |
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| How much: | FREE |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Current University students, General public |
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| Speaker: | Ziqiu Ren, |
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Join us for the first public talk of the year launching our anniversary exhibition "Building China: People’s Infrastructure".
Explore the spontaneous and ingenious adaptations found in China’s urban marketplaces, where everyday materials become functional art. This talk delves into the world of informal architectural practices that thrive without formal design processes, reflecting a bottom-up creativity that challenges our conventional views on sustainability and technology in building. We’ll discuss how these grassroots innovations might teach us new ways to think about architecture and urban infrastructure.
After the talk, there will be an opportunity to visit the exhibition on the Lower Ground Floor of the Central Library (open from 1 March until 31 May 2026).
About the speaker
Ziqiu Ren is a spatial filmmaker and architectural researcher. Her research is established at the intersection of urban studies, ethnographic
theories, and creative media. She is currently a PhD Candidate in Architecture at the University of Manchester, working on Chinese food marketplaces, supported by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). She is an associated researcher at the Urban Studies Lab.
The Manchester Confucius Institute Public Talk Series
Manchester Confucius Institute public talks are free, informal and informative lectures aimed at anyone with an interest in Chinese culture and language.
Speakers
Ziqiu Ren
Role: Doctoral Student
Organisation: University of Manchester
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Central Library
St Peter's Square
Manchester
