Last year on the 12th November, BaoSteel broke ground for welfare housing to be constructed in steel in the Sichuan Province. Little was it known when this construction was in planning that the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake that devastated the Province would position this construction as the first post-disaster restoration and reconstruction project. Now under construction, the residential quarter has been named “The Happy Home Garden Yiyuan.”

The development is the first all-steel residential construction in the Province, located on the eastern side of the 2nd ring road in Dujiangyan City. It occupies 83 acres of land with a total construction area of 115,000 square metres in mainly multiple dwellings along with some middle- and high-rise dwellings. When construction is complete, planned for the end of 2009, the new quarter will facilitate the resettlement of over 1,300 families.

Compared to traditional housing of brick and reinforced concrete structures, Yiyuan includes energy-saving features, better living environment, a short construction cycle, less resource consumption and good anti-seismic performance—making it an ideal choice for reconstructing the earthquake-affected communities. What’s more, the new anti-earthquake technology, known as shear wall with slits, is being used for the first time in this project in China. It’ll strengthen the safety of the construction. You can read about this new emerging technology in a new document posted in our Tutorials section.

Yiyuan has received much support of leaders at all levels of Chengdu and Dujiangyan City and has been designated as a model Living Steel residential quarter by the World Steel Association.

At present, the steel structural frames have been settled for two or three stories. It’s estimated that the main steel structural frame will be finished in September. And the whole project will be completed before the end of 2009.