A masterclass in architecture and design

New educational guide inspires young people in China

More than 40 experts in the fields of architecture, academia and design have contributed to an educational guide for young adults which has just been launched by AkzoNobel in China.

- 42 experts contributed to new educational guide

- Intended for young students living in remote areas

- Contributors include He Jingtang and Zhang Yonghe

- Project attracted over 750 university volunteers

Entitled The Master’s Aesthetics Class for Young Adults and divided into separate courses, the guide is designed to be used as an educational tool to help young people explore, appreciate, understand, experience and create beauty.

Intended for elementary and junior high school students in remote areas, the extensive guide presents the results of the Master’s Aesthetics Class program, which the company launched in 2018. In total, 42 masters have contributed their insight, including several world renowned architects.

The launch of the guide forms part of AkzoNobel China’s Student Sustainability Awards, which is now in its ninth year. The program was set up to support cultural inheritance through the company’s color expertise and experience in the field of architecture.

“We’re dedicated to the concept of cultural inheritance and empowering young people in China with aesthetic education,” explains Mark Kwok, President of AkzoNobel’s China and North Asia business and Director of Decorative Paints in China/North Asia. “By developing this guide, we hope to inspire more young talent in remote communities and actively bring to life the People pillar of our ‘People. Planet. Paint.’ approach to sustainability.”

The new publication consists of five main sections: tales of architecture and aesthetics; discussions on architecture and aesthetics; DYI; appreciation of classical architecture; and learning from masters.

Contributors include the world-renowned architects He Jingtang and Zhang Yonghe.

A great example of AkzoNobel’s continued focus on caring for people in local communities, the guide is being made available via the online course center of the China Education Support Project. It will be offered for free to university student societies and educational workers in 400 universities, who provide education to schools in China’s remote areas. In addition, through a partnership with P&G China and the China Youth Development Foundation, it will also be delivered to more than 200 P&G Hope Schools.

Launched in 2011, the AkzoNobel China Student Sustainability Awards have proved to be a great success. To date, 284 universities in 103 cities have taken part, resulting in 4.77 million volunteer hours and more than five million beneficiaries.