Main Text#
First, I want to discuss my negation: contemporary Chinese architecture has obliterated the traditional characteristics of China.
Not only do I want to negate the viewpoint above, but I also want to negate the idea that contemporary architecture has obliterated traditional characteristics. The difference from the viewpoint above is that the viewpoint written above only targets Chinese architecture, while this viewpoint is aimed at all architecture.
Born in China, we are most familiar with Chinese architecture, and we can use Chinese architecture to expand and promote to all architecture in the world.
Note: The term "individual" in the quoted part should be understood as "individual" or "single."Individual buildings generally consist of three main parts: the lower base, the middle building itself, and the upper wing-like extending roof.
Liang Sicheng, "Characteristics of Chinese Architecture"
When it comes to traditional Chinese architecture, the impression is of red walls, various colored tiles, and wing-like extending roofs. The base part is only applicable to individual buildings; if it is a connected architectural complex, then a base may not necessarily be needed. In addition, there are also wooden structures and colorful paintings, which are the most prominent features.
During the feudal period, the Chinese were profoundly influenced by the divine right of kings, heaven, earth, gods, and ghosts. Therefore, in addition to the aforementioned characteristics, there are also decorative tiles, ridge beasts, and various decorative elements.
Chinese people have a strong attachment to home, which has led to the development of a unique courtyard style. There is much courtyard culture, which I will not elaborate on here. The most famous Beijing Siheyuan is a well-preserved courtyard building; a courtyard is not a standalone building but a group of buildings. Thus, the courtyard is also one of the significant characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture.
There are many characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture that I will not detail here. Let us summarize its most representative features:
(1) Components of individual buildings: the lower base, the middle building itself, and the upper wing-like extending roof.
(2) Cohesive architectural groups: symmetry, facing south, and having courtyards.
(3) Wooden columns and beams, without load-bearing walls.
(4) Dougong structure, better mechanical design.
(5) Frame design to support the wing-like extending roof design.
(6) Unique and varied roof styles.
(7) Vermilion red.
(8) Various reliefs and colorful paintings for decoration.
These are the characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture. What about contemporary architecture? Although most of them lack characteristic roofs and various decorations, they still mostly adhere to the principle of symmetry in architectural groups, which can be well reflected in urban planning. The courtyard culture, due to the passage of time, has gradually evolved into the form of communities. In an architectural complex, communities are an essential part; although they no longer serve the function of outdoor living rooms, they still share similarities with courtyards, as communities originate from courtyards.
From the perspective of contemporary individual buildings, although they have load-bearing walls and have abandoned structures like columns and beams, this is also designed for multi-story buildings. If a column structure is used, due to the limited load-bearing capacity of the object itself, it becomes difficult to support the building after reaching a certain height. Using load-bearing walls is, therefore, the best choice. Once load-bearing walls are in place, the structures of columns and beams become entirely unnecessary, as most of the load-bearing tasks have been handed over to the load-bearing walls. Many clever mechanical designs, including Dougong, seem insignificant in front of load-bearing walls. The substitute for the base is the foundation, which, aside from its decorative nature, serves almost the same function as the base. This is because contemporary Chinese architecture is introduced from the West, where the base is hidden underground.
So we must talk about Western architecture.
The characteristics of Western architecture are no longer roofs extending outward but rather upward, or simply flat roofs. Their mechanical designs give a strong sense of impact; in many buildings, you rarely see columns inside, which is quite surprising. Clearly, their mechanical designs never intended to assign the load-bearing task to columns and beams. In terms of color, ancient European color craftsmanship is far less advanced than that of ancient China, so the use of color is not as bold. In terms of building materials, ancient Europe primarily used stone, while ancient China used wood.
That said, they also share commonalities.
Symmetry is geometry, and humans discovered long ago that the beauty of geometry is infinite. The Fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio originate from geometry, and most of the founders of modern mathematics are Europeans. Therefore, Europeans naturally use geometry to construct European architecture, with symmetry being the most basic characteristic. In addition, they have built many marvelous buildings using mathematical constructs. Reliefs and decorations are also commonalities between the East and West; these reliefs and decorations are used abundantly on both sides of the world, with similar usage scenarios and decoration locations.
In summary, ancient Chinese and ancient European architecture differ in that the former emphasizes a unique Chinese temperament, a style that is partially concealed and relatively euphemistic, while the latter is more transcendent and grand.
All these characteristics have certain styles and techniques that craftsmen adhere to and that are recognized by the people. We can call it the "grammar" of Chinese architecture. Architecture, like language and writing, is a convention that a nation always creates and continues to use, becoming a style. In the West, the Greek and Roman systems created their "five types of paradigms," which became their architectural style.
Liang Sicheng, "Characteristics of Chinese Architecture"
So, do we finally say that contemporary architecture has truly obliterated traditional characteristics?
I have already negated this twice, and I will negate it once more. Contemporary architecture combines the transcendence and grandeur of ancient Europe with the partially concealed and relatively euphemistic style of ancient China. It still follows the grammar of ancient architecture, but it is a more essential and fundamental grammar. Contemporary people integrate these grammars to design contemporary architecture, which combines better mechanical designs from Europe with better decorative designs from China.
Contemporary architecture does not obliterate tradition; it inherits and improves it.
Conclusion#
This article was published on October 1, 2022, National Day. I wish my beloved land can bid farewell to plagues and decay and welcome new life in the new year!
References#
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"Characteristics of Chinese Architecture" — Liang Sicheng
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Characteristics of Modern Architecture
This article was synchronized and updated to xLog by Mix Space. The original link is https://fmcf.cc/posts/life/Architectural-Identity-Crisis