HOA 323 A History of Architecture IV

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[4.1] A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE IN

CHINA AND HONG KONG

The architecture of China is as old as Chinese civilization. There is strong evidence testifying to the fact that the Chinese have always employed an indigenous system of construction that has retained its principal characteristics from prehistoric times to the present day. Over the vast area, the same system of construction is prevalent. That this system of construction could perpetuate itself for more than four thousand years over such a vast territory and still remain a living architecture is a phenomenon comparable only to the continuity of the civilization of which it is an integral part. 1 Part 1: Influences and Architectural Implications 2-5
Influences Architectural Implications 1 Geographic 18-54 North lat, 73-135 East long. varied characteristics Russia, Mongolia The Great Wall of China Japan, Korea, Vietnam, etc. similarity in architectural character 2 Geologic (and therefore, locally available materials) 60+ mountain ranges, 100+ mountains abundance of red sandstone and limestone (including Mt. Everest) (used for important structures) timber construction: mostly cedar, pine, & bamboo forests (hardwoods and softwoods) posts are the main support, brackets are secondary mines (iron and copper) steel (used in modern infrastructure) 50+ rivers (including Yangtze & Yellow) clay (bricks, tiles, porcelain) as building material 3 Climatic (makes roof the chief feature) avoid the cold wind and catch the sun: Upper: Polar - structures are south-facing - site is an enclosure with courtyard/sky-well Middle: sloped roof to throw off rainwater; Temperate, Monsoon widely projecting eaves to protect from rain; Lower: Monsoon, Subtropical titled ends to catch the sun 4 Historic/Political Ancient Xia, Shang, Chou The Great Wall of China Qin, Han, Tang, Sung, Imperial Yuan, Ming, Qing The Forbidden City 1911-1949 Republic of China 1949 pres Peoples Republic of China The Great Hall of the People (Arch. Zhang Bo, 1959) 1978 economic reforms 5 Spiritual/Cosmological/Ethical/Religious symmetry in plan and elevation: Balance even no. of columns to make odd no. of bays (where center bay is the main door) Geomancy feng shui absolute obedience to parents altars at home showcasing pictures of ascendants; ancestor worship frames are hung in hierarchy (emperor at highest) Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism temples and shrines 6 Social/Cultural hierarchy of social classes structures are laid out and accessed in hierarchy; and sumptuary laws regulated domestic architecture

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HOA 323 A History of Architecture IV

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Part 2: Other Architectural Characteristics 1. Walls are not structural elements, they are protective. They are commonly used only to enclose a structure and delineate the rooms within. Walls are often made of paper, this allows light to pass through. More importantly, it is able to bear Chinas greater passion: painting and calligraphy. 2. Sloped Roofs are usually gable. 3. Elevations have horizontal orientation 4. Door heads are square. 5. Grotesque carvings of dragons are found on roofs of important structures 6. Glazed tiles are used in wealthy roofs. Part 3: Vernacular Chinese Architecture (Examples) CHINA

Siheyuan (dwelling)

Fujian Tolou/Hakka Houses

Temple of Confucius in Beijing

Yellow Crane Tower (pavilion)

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

Temple of Heaven

HONG KONG

Chi Lin Nunnery (Buddhist)

Wong Tai Sin Temple (Taoist)

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HOA 323 A History of Architecture IV

Part 4: Contemporary Chinese Architecture (Examples)

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CHINA

Natl Grand Theater The Egg

Beijing National Stadium Birds Nest

Beijing Natl Aquatic Center Water Cube

Guangzhou Intl Financial Center

Shanghai World Financial Center

China Central Television HQ

HONG KONG

HSBC

Bank of China

Intl Finance Centers 1 & 2

Lippo Center

Intl Commerce Center

AIA Central

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HOA 323 A History of Architecture IV

Part 5: Contemporary Chinese Architects

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Qi Kang
Born 1931 in Nanjing, China

Rocco Yim
Born and educated in Hong Kong Professional practice began in 1979

Yansong Ma
mentor: Zaha Hadid

Jing Liu and husband Florian Idenburg born 1981, apprenticed at SANAA in Japan founder of So-Il References:
1

Wang Shu and architect-wife Lu Wuyen First Chinese winner of the Pritzker Prize (2012)

Paraphrased from Liang, Ssu-ch'eng, 1984, A pictorial history of Chinese architecture: a study of the development of its structural system and the evolution of its types, ed. by Wilma Fairbank, Cambridge (Mass.): MIT Press. The table was compiled and tabulated from: 2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China (Retrieval date: November 18, 2012) 3 http://www.oldandsold.com/articles23/architecture-144.shtml (Retrieval date: November 18, 2012) 4 http://www.oldandsold.com/articles23/architecture-145.shtml 5 http://www.oldandsold.com/articles23/architecture-147.shtml 6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_in_China#cite_note-1 http://www.aiacentral.com/building03.php http://www.pritzkerprize.com/2012/ceremony http://www.topchinatravel.com/china-guide/traditional-vernacular-dwellings.htm http://www.thecoolist.com/fujian-tulou-chinas-amazing-hakka-houses/ http://www.artandliving.com/aandlmagazine/index.php/nowmenu/architectures/520-ma-yansong-madutopia

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