Preliminary Bibliography

Preliminary Bibliography
Peter G. Rowe, Seng Kuan. 2002. Architectural Encounters with Essence and Form in Modern China. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

Qinghua Guo. 2002. A Visual Dictionary of Chinese Architecture. Australia: The Images Publishing Group Ltd.

Andrew Boyd. 1987. Chinese Architecture and Town Planning 1500B.C.-A.D. 1911. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press.

Qiming Jin, Lian Zhang. 2007. Zhong Guo Chuan Tong Min Ju (Chinese traditional vernacular dwellings). Beijing, China: China Electrical Power Press.

Qijun Wang, Yiping Tan. 2005. Ming Jian Zhu Zhai (Vernacular Dwellings). Beijing, China: China Waterpower Press.

Qijun Wang. 2000. Min jian zhu zhai jian zhu. English. (Vernacular dwellings : ancient Chinese architecture). Wien : Springer.

Ssu-chʻeng Liang. 1984. A pictorial history of Chinese architecture : a study of the development of its structural system and the evolution of its types; edited by Wilma Fairbank. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press

Chinese Vernacular Architecture: A Blog about Ancient and Modern Vernacular Architecture in China: http://www.chinesevernaculararchitecture.com/

Chinese Vernacular Architecture and General Chinese Architecture web links, SUNY-New Paltz: http://www2.newpaltz.edu/~knappr/#ChineseVernacularArchitectureLinks

Preliminary Proposal

Tradition versus Modernism:

A Study on Chinese Vernacular Architecture and What Can We Learn From It

I. Reasons for the study

Looking at today’s world of architecture, China is undoubtedly the biggest playground for world’s most innovative architecture designs. Innumerous new architectures spring up on the land of this old Asian country: the Beijing Olympic Stadium, the headquarter for Central China Television, the National Grand Center, just to name a few. However, at the same time I was amazed by all these wonderful architectural inventions, I felt that something was missing. To me, these great grand buildings seemed like they could be built in anywhere else in this world; they don’t necessarily have an inner relation with China, the Chinese landscape and the Chinese culture. Therefore, I came up with these questions to myself: what can be the Chinese way to render modern architecture in our contemporary world? Is there anything we can learn from traditional Chinese architecture? Can we find a balance point between traditionalism and modernism?

II. Current academic context on this topic

After I did a little bit research, I found people tend to fall into two pathways when they approach the question of Chinese traditional architecture. One is those architectural history scholars who spent a lot of effort deciphering, categorizing and chronicling the Chinese ancient architecture. What they did could be very important historic documents but it seems to be a little bit detached from current architecture practice. The other is those who do put Chinese traditional architecture elements into their current design practice. However, their architecture only looks Chinese outside, but when you walk inside the building, they are actually all western structures and layout. This kind of architecture seems only apply Chinese architecture elements in a very limited and superficial level.

III. Purpose/Goals

Taking the above mentioned phenomenon into consideration, my goal for this independent study is to look into the true essence that is inherent in Chinese traditional architecture, what we can learn from them, and if there’s a way to apply them into today’s architecture design practice.

IV. Subject Matter

I choose to focus on study Chinese vernacular/folk architecture to answer the above question. This is because: 1). the traditional vernacular dwellings take up the biggest proportion of the Chinese traditional architectures that are alive today. There are also a big variety of different forms and styles within it—according to my incomplete statistics, there are at least 19 kinds of different vernacular architecture. 2). Usually, these buildings are not design by any specific architect; rather, they are the fruit of several generation Chinese people’s wisdom. A lot of forms have been there for several hundred years. The test of time and environment proved that they have the most study values. 3). Since China is such a big country and different areas have very different climate and landscape, vernacular dwellings are usually built in a way that best fits and utilize its local natural condition. This idea also coincides with the notions that today’s sustainable design architects believe, which I think would have a lot of meanings to our green architecture practice today.

I will first give an overview of today’s Chinese architecture world and explain why we need Chinese traditional architecture elements. Then, I will investigate the values of major Chinese vernacular architecture according to their geographical regions, including: Beijing Siheyuan (Walled Quadrangle Residences), Shaanxi Yaodong (Cave-dwellings), Uyghur vernacular dwellings, Northeastern China vernacular dwellings, Inner Mongolia yurt dwellings, Suzhou Garden, Zhejiang vernacular dwellings, Fujian Tulou, Guangdong Kaiping Diaolou (Watchtower-like residence), Bai Minority vernacular dwellings, Yunnan Tujia Minority Diaojiaolou (Bamboo overhanging Houses), Tibetan vernacular dwellings.

In the study of these different types of vernacular architectures, I will focus on the following questions:

1) Environment, Landscape, Site choose, Fengshui

2) Utilization of natural sunlight

3) Adaption to the local climate, Microclimate with the dwellings, ventilation

4) Indoor and outdoor space, Layout

5) Building material, Utilization of local material and natural resources

6) Utilization of water, Drainage System

7) Circulation

8) View and the creating of views

Finally, I will come up with the conclusion on what are the lessons we could learn from traditional vernacular dwellings, and what can be applied into present day’s architecture practice

V. Research Methodology

I will be look into books directly on Chinese vernacular dwellings, different dwelling types’ historical and cultural context, different region’s landscape and climate. I will use the pictures I took from China as well as online image resource. I will also look into typical dwelling’s sitemap, floor plan and its currently using/preservation condition. Furthermore, I will try to talk to people whose specialty or interest is this topic. These people may include: both Chinese and American college professors, social activists in historic preservation, architects, etc.

I will also be studying the sustainable design criteria that are used today and if there’s valuable sustainable design concepts in traditional vernacular dwellings. In addition, I will also refer to the information on how other country combine their traditional architecture elements into the contemporary architecture design practice. I may also do some case study on some successful examples on how contemporary architects combine the traditional of Chinese architecture elements with modernism architecture design, such as I.M. Pei’s Fragrance Hill Hotel, Beijing and Suzhou Museum, Suzhou.

VI. Explanation of Relevance

This research will give me a stable knowledge of Chinese traditional architecture. It will also help me better understand sustainable design, which is an area that I want to pursue in the future. Furthermore, this independent study will also evoke me to think about the contradiction between modernism and traditionalism, regionalism and uniformalism, and where should we place history and tradition in the future architecture.