Abstraction and simplicity in Chinese architecture
In the 1990s, brand new diversified regional cultures brought by globalization made architects no longer just stay at the most superficial level of forms and simply transplant Western concepts in the pursuit of regionalism. They began to pay attention to the association between architecture and "regions."
First, they used surrounding environments, terrains and landforms to strive for harmony with the environment and reduce a building's influence on the environment on the one hand and to make the building a focus or decoration in the environmental landscape and improve the surrounding natural landscape on the other hand. Second, they took local climates, temperature, humidity, architectural materials and other natural resources into consideration.
Some buildings abstract and use the overall image of local traditional architecture and some architectural components with a strong sense of modernity.
The Turpan Hotel in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region designed by Liu Wei is modeled on local traditional architecture with ethnic characteristics: The practice of covering the enclosed space of the dented new hotel building with a lighting ceiling originates from the local "aywang"; the "image" of the tower at the center of the building originates from the domed minaret of the Emin Mosque; the recurrent circular arch windows in the building echoing the dome of the tower originate from vaulted civilian residences popular in Turpan. However, architects highly abstracted these traditional architectural forms, so they all have a strong modern atmosphere.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, 2018
In the 1990s, brand new diversified regional cultures brought by globalization made architects no longer just stay at the most superficial level of forms and simply transplant Western concepts in the pursuit of regionalism. They began to pay attention to the association between architecture and "regions."
First, they used surrounding environments, terrains and landforms to strive for harmony with the environment and reduce a building's influence on the environment on the one hand and to make the building a focus or decoration in the environmental landscape and improve the surrounding natural landscape on the other hand. Second, they took local climates, temperature, humidity, architectural materials and other natural resources into consideration.
Some buildings abstract and use the overall image of local traditional architecture and some architectural components with a strong sense of modernity.
The Turpan Hotel in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region designed by Liu Wei is modeled on local traditional architecture with ethnic characteristics: The practice of covering the enclosed space of the dented new hotel building with a lighting ceiling originates from the local "aywang"; the "image" of the tower at the center of the building originates from the domed minaret of the Emin Mosque; the recurrent circular arch windows in the building echoing the dome of the tower originate from vaulted civilian residences popular in Turpan. However, architects highly abstracted these traditional architectural forms, so they all have a strong modern atmosphere.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press, Beijing, 2018
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