Evolution or Destruction? Navigation of the Invasion and Western Influence on China’s Traditional Architecture and Modernism
Helen Wan 520486362
BDES3011Architectural History and Theory 3 Assessment 1: Look Again March, 2024
Introduction
Since the late 20th century, the trajectory of Chinese architecture has shifted in response to the increased critical attention on modernism in China, perceived as a historical progression influenced by economic and political reforms starting from the mid-19th century. Predominantly, the introduction of Deng Xiaoping’s governmental policy, ‘Gaige Kai Fang’ (Reform and Opening up) in 1978 has stimulated both China’s economic and architectural development however, at the cost of obscuring traditional disciplines and characteristics as means to drive globalisation1 By 1980, Beijing and Shanghai have become modern metropolises with emerging skylines and high-rise dynamics, epitomising the radical transformation of the realm of contemporary China and its unprecedented urban growth necessitating the development of new urban and infrastructural forms2 Despite the confluence of Eastern andWestern architectural philosophies has improved design and construction levels, the dominance of Western trends has consequently resulted in a shift in architectural paradigm receding vernacular values and appearances and rather focusing on the uniformity of the urban landscapes and its socioeconomic impacts At the same time, opportunities for which this paradigm shift could potentially provide for the cross-cultural exchange between the East and the West in approach to fostering an enhanced tapestry of tradition also became limited.
Over time, the ideology of modernism arose in respect of the excessive growth in construction under globalisation. Rapid urban expansion insighted the need for increased technological implications Hence, the importation of Western structural advancements fulfilled efficiency as a form of modernisation and its gradual replacement of original methods and complications has become increasingly prevalent. Western influences, thus, strictly outlooked a transformation of China’s inherited architecture and culture, in fact, the reduction in tradition
1 Qing, Xia. 2019. “Invasion of China’s Traditional Architecture: AReview.” OP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 636 (3rd International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ICACE 2019))
2 Liang, Samuel Y. 2012. Mapping Modernity in Shanghai : Space, Gender, and Visual Culture in the Sojourners’ City, 1853-98 London: Routledge, 11
A catalyst for change
The beginning of the 1840 Opium War marked the end of the feudal dynasty which drove Chinese engagement in warfare, embracing Western innovations as a means to strengthen their ‘combat capabilities’3 Wei Yuan’s advocacy in the adoption of Western manoeuvre assisted him to withstand western power, ultimately setting sceneforChina’sfutureacceptanceofWesternideologies.4 TheestablishmentofthePeople'sRepublicofChina in 1949 required extensive post-war reconstruction which was revitalised from past ineffective official decisions. The initiation of the 1978 reform and opening policy ultimately gave rise to China’s unprecedented economic increase, whilst however, stressing that national inferiority from historical encounters were major attributions to the separating traditional culture.5 Amongst Chinese authorities underlies the belief that the essence of China’s forward-moving development is achieved upon the abandonment of past traditions, yet westernisation is catalyst for national progression. Thisnotionalludes tothat the fostering ofnew societal norms were made at the expense of overlooked cultural consciousness and extinct architectural legacies due to rapid urban transformations. Evolutionary vernacular contexts which intrinsically underpin the value of traditional architecture are progressively sidelined by globalisation, diluting the interconnections between Chinese authentic styles, nuanced aesthetics and their deeply rooted communal and societal connections. To a global extent, China’s participation especially in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001,6 has witnessed an excessive emergence of foreign technologies and philosophies impacting on the infrastructural systems of its
3 Qing, Xia. 2019. “Invasion of China’s Traditional Architecture: AReview.” OP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering 636 (3rd International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ICACE 2019)
4 Guo, Qian. 2015. “Development Trend of the Architectures with Chinese Characteristics under the Impact of Western Culture.” Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Education, Management and Computing Technology, June.
5 Garrett B 2001 China Faces, Debates, the Contradiction of Globalization Asian Surv. 41 409–27
6 Dong X, Bowles Pand Chang H 2010 Managing Liberalization and Globalization in Rural China:Trends in RuralLabour Allocation, Income and Inequality Globalization and Labour in China and India (London: Palgrave Macmillan UK)
metropolitan cities Amidst urbanisation, cross-cultural exchange between the China and foreign nations has rather challenged the resilience of the nation’s cultural disciplines against external influences.
The ShiftingArchitectural Paradigm
China’sperception of contemporary architecture under foreign influence has altered toprioritise the practicality, usability, and modernisation of architecture over the intrinsic nature, aesthetics, and values that define the structure itself 7 By means, building constructions are progressively more and more driven by efficiency and rapid production of modern urban complexes including skyscrapers and prefabricated structures in order to proliferate modern cities acrossthe country.The imitation ofthewestern approach inurbandevelopment reveals the underlying governmental ambition in boosting economic output and global marketing.8 Over years of time, Uniformity across urban spatial plannings potentialises for indistinctiveness in the urban areas resulting in the phenomenon of an ‘one-size fits all’ approach.9 The lacking awareness of natural environment improvements and innovations, consequently, indicate the negligence towards maintaining the historical traditions in relations to China’s vernacular architecture.
The official announcement regarding the destruction of past buildings made by General Secretary Xi Jingping in January 2015 criticises the renovation of new foreign additions to the architectural context of the nation –with much being constituted for society hence higher standards were put forward by Western architects 10 The presence of China’siconicbuildingssuch as Beijing's Bird's Nest NationalStadium, designedbySwiss architect Pierre Demeuron and Herzong, and The National Centre for the Performing Arts by Paul Andrew (French) respectively reflect cross-cultural collaborations on high-end constructions that internationalise China’s metropolitan cities, yet at the expense of local cultural identity.11 Furthermore, criticism even towards Guangzhou’s Canton Tower has questioned its worth of high costings yet lacking functionality, ultimately underscoring the persisting struggles to find a balance between traditional styles and modern innovation under the avoidance of imitation.
Overtaking traditional approach: Evolutionary structural interventions
Localisation of Western methodologies comprehensively broadened the cultural scale of Chinese cities into social customs leading towards revaluated social divisions of labour and practical engineering and mechanisms. Shanghai, historically enriched with the British settlement in the 19th century, underwent the earliest Western
7 Senarath N K 2001 Design with the Nat
8 Liang, Samuel Y. 2012. Mapping Modernity in Shanghai : Space, Gender, and Visual Culture in the Sojourners’ City, 1853-98 London: Routledge, 8
9 Heikkila E J 2007 Three questions regarding urbanization in China J. Plan. Educ. Res. 27 65–81
10 Xi Jinping. TheAncient House in Fuzhou [J]. Architectural Design Management, 2015, 01: 2-3.
11 Guo, Qian. 2015. “Development Trend of the Architectures with Chinese Characteristics under the Impact of Western Culture.” Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Education, Management and Computing Technology, June.
influence as its adaptable natural geographical, climatic conditions, and politico-economic characteristics lead its role asChina’smost important global port12 . Under the emergence of the newWestern consciousness in what was endeavoured to be modern China, Shanghai’s architectural structure was distinctly separated into threephase systems renewed as a form of new modernism
1. Old Hybrid: Masonry-Timber Buildings
Masonry vertical bearing elements (walls, columns) and the use of timber for horizontal force distribution (beams, slab). Main difference between the Western and local structure is that walls in western architecture are part ofboththeenvelopeandstructuralelement Theemployment ofChinesecraftmanshipfulfillingtheabsence of local expertise of western methods subsequently, elucidate the transplantation of western style architecture, under imitation rather than commencing vernacular designs The emerging European style red-brick production affirmed the importation of the British culture in Shanghai, which the The North Bandinel & Co. Building, exemplifies its colonial veranda styled through pointed arches along the homogenous façade as an early integration of Western architecture into China’s metropolitan practices.13
2. New Hybrid: Masonry-Steel-Reinforced Concrete Buildings
Contemporary materials including concrete, cement, and steel introduced concurrently as foreign migration proposed enhanced bending properties than old masonry-timber structures, for which local materials were once again replaced by more versatile and expandable goods In continuance of the old hybrid structure, brick transferred vertical loads whilst steel and RC structures transferred horizontal loads instead. Uniformity, provided elevated stories potentials for construction, reinforcing the modernist vision of Shanghai outlooks for.14
3. A New System: Reinforced Concrete / Steel Frame Buildings
Frame structures revolutionised the architectural landscape of Shanghai after enabling the capacity for high-rise building constructions, marking a milestone of the city’s progression to modernism. The success of its strengthened structural integrity and climatic resistance whilst puts end to the need for the mix-use of structural materials, also reinforces the evolving adoption of Western architectural
12 Zhang, Peng, and YiJiao Yang. 2019. “Transplantation to Localisation: The Importation of Western Structural Technologies in Modern Shanghai Architecture Based on a Study of the Bund Buildings, 1843–1943.” Built Heritage, 13 March 2019, 1
13 Zhang, Peng, and YiJiao Yang. 2019. “Transplantation to Localisation: The Importation of Western Structural Technologies in Modern Shanghai Architecture Based on a Study of the Bund Buildings, 1843–1943.” Built eritage, 13 March 2019, 5
14 Zhang, Peng, and YiJiao Yang. 2019. “Transplantation to Localisation: The Importation of Western Structural Technologies in Modern Shanghai Architecture Based on a Study of the Bund Buildings, 1843–1943.” Built Heritage, 13 March 2019, 6
advancements in continuity and consistency.15 Upon the inauguration of a new modern era for Shanghai, the dominance of skyscrapers over vernacular developments, ultimately accentuate the receding traditionalnotionsthat offset overtimein order for thepromotion of China’s engagement with global trends, even if it challenges the preservation of architectural heritage.
In the essence of evolution, Western influence on Chinese architecture conveys the transformation of tradition into modernism amidst globalisation andChina’s progressive political andeconomicreforms. Rapid urban development mark the gradual collapse of cultural heritage in exchange of enhanced architectural innovations and global recognition. The emergence of Western conventions driving the endeavour for a modernised nation ultimately challenges the balance between modern evolution and cultural preservation for which are both integral for the embracement of a historically respectful and enriched future.
15 Zhang, Peng, and YiJiao Yang. 2019. “Transplantation to Localisation: The Importation of Western Structural Technologies in Modern Shanghai Architecture Based on a Study of the Bund Buildings, 1843–1943.” Built Heritage, 13 March 2019, 8