Cast-In-situ Concrete Xuan Paper Town Wins Second Prize in CCPA Ecological Concrete Competition

On December 12, 2025, the 5th Ecological Concrete Development Forum and the Achievement Release Event of the “Hohai University Cup” Ecological Concrete Innovation Design and Application Competition took place in Nanjing. The event was organized by the Ecological Concrete Branch of the China Concrete and Cement Products Association (CCPA), with Hohai University and the CCPA Concrete Art Industry Innovation Working Committee as co-organizers.

Centred on the theme “Low-Carbon Materials, Ecological Structures, and Diversified Scenarios,” the forum explored advances in products, technologies, and engineering applications within the ecological concrete sector. The official competition results were announced following the opening ceremony. As a key platform for translating innovation into practice, the competition demonstrated the expanding application of ecological concrete in water conservancy and navigation infrastructure, municipal construction, landscape architecture, and ecological restoration.

The Xuan Paper Town project was awarded the Second Prize in the Ecological Engineering Application category for its original design approach and innovative use of materials, notably the application of Aalborg White cement in cast-in-situ white concrete.

Designed by the Design Institute of Landscape & Architecture, China Academy of Art and constructed by Xuancheng Municipal Construction Group, Xuan Paper Town draws inspiration from the traditional craft of Xuan paper making. The project envisions a multifunctional town that integrates production, daily life, education, and tourism, while responding sensitively to its natural surroundings along the Huishui River in Wuxi, Jing County, southern Anhui.

White fair-faced concrete walls form an inhabitable “paper mountain,” with tones that echo the colour of traditional Xuan paper. Large expanses of straight lines and curved slices evoke stacked sheets of paper, creating a sculptural landscape that harmonizes with the rolling hills and riverbank. As visitors move through the space, architecture and landscape merge, offering a unique experience of walking within both cultural heritage and nature.

By combining material performance, cultural expression, and ecological sensitivity, the project exemplifies the innovative application of ecological concrete, standing out as a representative achievement in the competition.