Permanence and Change: China through the Lenses of a Norwegian Architect, 1985-2019

China's remarkable development over the last four decades has captivated people worldwide. This book aims to describe the changes in the country as seen by a Norwegian professor who has spent significant time there, engaging in research, planning, consultancy work, and teaching architecture students. The activities, focused mainly on historic housing areas in rural and urban settings, provide insights into the dynamic between permanence and change. The narrative spans from the author's initial experiences in the 1980s to the developments up to 2020, offering a comprehensive view of a culture in flux through personal experiences and supplemented with the author’s photographs. Coming from a Norwegian background, a culture quite different from China, the author hopes this book will hold interest for both the general public and professionals in the field.