"Jewelry" is among six modules at Zhang Yonghe's exhibit at the UCCA. Photo: Courtesy of UCCA

The main hall of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) is set up with thigh-high rammed-earth walls forming six courtyard-like modules. On the modules rests models of buildings made of wood and plastic.

The exhibit, entitled "Material-ism," offers a retrospective look into the works of Chinese-American architect Zhang Yonghe.

Zhang, a pioneer in Chinese architecture, is renowned as the first architect to set up an independent atelier, a type of studio, in China. He is also the first dean of architecture of Chinese descent at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) School of Architecture and Planning.

The exhibit's title "Material-ism" represents the three main ideas Zhang has toward architecture, according to You Yang, assistant director of UCCA.

"Materialism is a cultural value that emerged in China after the reform and opening-up. As someone who grew up during that era, Zhang experienced it firsthand," he told Metro Beijing. "From the perspective of materials, Zhang uses both rammed-earth walls and bamboo. Finally, the term also refers to Marxism's influence."

Each of the six modules represents a different theme, presenting models, drawings and objects of Zhang's projects and explores a different aspect of his practice. For example, in the section "Bike Apartment," Zhang presents a building for a cyclist, looking at how design can both influence and be influenced by the inhabitant's lifestyle.

Zhang also explores the material side of designing buildings. In the "Infernal Construct" section, he uses ordinary materials such as glass tiles, concrete and bamboo in elegant building designs.

Furthermore, Zhang infuses his personal experience in architecture. In "Endless Courtyard," he gives Chinese courtyards a contemporary makeover by presenting one as a "split house" - a hillside dwelling with two wings, enclosing a courtyard within the hillside.

But some artworks are puzzling for viewers. Andy Godfrey, a British material science teacher at Tsinghua University, said the way 'Bike Apartment' functions is unclear.

"As a non-expert, it's a bit puzzling. The idea is nice, but it's hard to picture how to live in there comfortably," he told Metro Beijing.

But You said the architecture exhibit isn't meant to be entirely realistic. If an artwork can provide new perspectives for the audience on daily life, then the work is meaningful.

"Zhang tries to portray the relationship between humans and urban development through 'Bike Apartment.' While the city is developing, do its residents feel secure, convenient and happy? Zhang provides perspective as a city dweller in this piece," he said.

Shi Ming, an architecture graduate from Tongji University in Shanghai, said he looks up to Zhang as a role model in the field. His friend, fellow Tongji graduate Jenny Li, said Zhang's creative building designs stand out from those by regular commercial architects.

"We've been out of the school for a couple of years and our passion has waned somewhat," she told Metro Beijing. "But this exhibit has reignited our passion for creative architecture."

When: Until December 2 (closed Mondays)

Where: UCCA, 798 Art Zone, 2-4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district