CRUSADE OF THE EAST: American-Cultivated Architects Dominate Chinese Trends?

CRUSADE OF THE EAST American-Cultivated Architects Dominate Chinese Trends?

Lu, Zhaozhan Liu, Xiaoyun Li, Xiang

AU I D , D A S t U Politecnico di Milano

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was a part of the PhD Course, Architectural Research Workshop of Politecnico di Milano.

Acknowledgements go to the teachers, colleges and friends for their kind support from different stages.

The authors would also like to thank Prof. Marco Bovati, Prof. Jacopo Leveratto, Prof. Andrea Oldani from Politecnico di Milano for their valuable suggestions on conducting the framework of the research.

AU T H O R S AUID PhD Candidates Lu, Zhaozhan zhaozhan.lu@polimi.it Liu, Xiaoyun xiaoyun.liu@polimi.it Li, Xiang xiang.li@polimi.it

CRUSADE OF THE EAST A m e r i c a n - C u l t i v a t e d A rc h i t e c t s D o m i n a t e C h i n e s e Tre n d s ?

ABSTRACT The United States and China are a vital part of the frequent architectural exchanges between countries. Chinese architects cultivated in the U.S.A brought back the western architectural trends and led the development of contemporary Chinese architecture. This research selects nine of the most influential Chinese architects and investigates their cultivated careers in the U.S.A by genealogy.

Then the research examines how they apply to Mandarin contexts when they come back by comparing methods. This research aims to provide a part of the profile of the American architectural influence on contemporary China illustrates how American trends localize and branch in different worlds, which could be an actual example of American architecture advancing the world architecture discourses.

CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 CRUSADE FROM CHINA I n t ro d u c t i o n o f C r u s a d e 1.1 Evolutions of Chinese Architecture...................................................

1.2 The Wave of Studying in America......................................................

C H A P T E R 2 C U LT I VAT E I N A M E R I CA A m e r i c a n C u l t i va te d C h i n e s e A rch i te c t s 2.1 Overview - Genealogy Network........................................................

2.2 Influences of the Trends.....................................................................

C H A P T E R 3 P R AC T I C E I N C H I N A Va r i a t i o n i n C u l t i va te - B a ckg ro u n d s 3.1 Projects of American-Cultivated Architects.....................................

3.2 Chinese-Chinese vs American-Chinese.............................................

3.3 Case Analysis.....................................................................................

C H A P T E R 4 C H O R U S W I T H A M E R I CA C o m p a r i s o n o f C u l t i va t i ve C o n te n t s 4.1 American-Chinese vs American-American........................................

4.2 Sparkles between America and China..............................................

4.3 Exports from China.............................................................................

CHAPTER 5 AFTER THE CRUSADE R ev i ew o f t h e C r u s a d e 5.1 Gains & Losses.....................................................................................

5.2 Following Progress..............................................................................

CHAPTER 1 CRUSADE FROM CHINA 1.1 Evolutions of Chinese Architecture 1.2 The Wave of Studying in America

|CRUSADE FROM CHINA

One hundred years ago, a Chinese architect crossed the ocean to the United States and started his journey of learning architecture.

Today, hundreds of Chinese architects are seeking scriptures in the United States.

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Evolutions of Chinese Architecture | C R U S A D E F R O M C H I N A

nese architecture over the past hundred years, it is not difficult to find the figures

Evolutions of Chinese Architecture | C R U S A D E F R O M C H I N A

Looking back at the evolution of Chi-

of European and American countries, both in architectural style and architectural education system. Among them, in the 1920s and from the 1980s to the present, American architecture has left a deep mark on the land of China.

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The Wave of Studying in America | C R U S A D E F R O M C H I N A

abroad has never faded. The number of students studying abroad was remarkably growing from 36 in 1972 to 710,000 in 2019. Especially in the 21st

The Wave of Studying in America | C R U S A D E F R O M C H I N A

The wave of Chinese students studying

Century, there has been a dramatic surge. Among them, students prefer to go to the United States. The top three schools that accepted Chinese architectural students were the University of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Washington University in St. Louis.

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CHAPTER 2 CULTIVATE IN AMERICA 2.1 Over view - Genealogy Network 2.2 Influences of the Trends

| C U LT I VAT E I N A M E R I CA They came to the sanctuary, worshiped under a famous teachers, searched with unbending will, Forged ahead in a pioneering spirit, finally comprehended the mystery of architectural scriptures.

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Overview-Genealogy Network | C U LT I VAT E I N A M E R I CA

Overview-Genealogy Network | C U LT I VAT E I N A M E R I CA Some Chinese architecture students cultivated in the U.S.A have become famous figures in the current Chinese scene. They were educated in prestigious American architecture universities and trained in their teachers’ studios or other institutions. Their teachers have led the development of architectural trends in the U.S. and even the world.

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CHAPTER 3 PRACTICE IN CHINA 3.1 Projects of American-Cultivated Architects 3.2 Chinese -Chinese vs American-Chinese 3.3 Case Analysis

|PRACTICE IN CHINA Returning from their pilgrimage, they labored diligently with local Chinese architecture believers to pursue localized practices and theories across the vast Chinese territory.

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Projects of American-Cultivated Architects | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

architects cultivated in the U.S.A are the fifth generation of Chinese architects (born after the late 60s). Most of them graduated from Harvard, Yale, and other prestigious universities. They have set up their studios after returning to China.

These architects have localized their

Projects of American-Cultivated Architects | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

Most of the currently active Chinese

practice in the vast territory of their homeland,

combining

what

they

learned in the United States with native characteristics.

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Chinese-Chinese VS. American Chinese | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

Tongji University

Southeast University

Tsinghua University

Tsing

YUAN Feng

YUAN Feng

LI Xinggang

NI Yan

LIU Yichun

LIU Yichun

ZHOU Kai

ZHANG Ming

ZHANG Ming

CUI Kai

ZHANG Bin

ZHANG Bin

ZHUANG Shen

ZHUANG Shen

Columbia University ZHUANG Ziyu GAO Yitao

Harvard University QI Shanshan LIU Yuyang YU Kongjian CHEN Zhen

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University of Illino DONG Gong DONG Yi

ng

ois

Chinese-Chinese VS. American Chinese | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

ghua University

Chongqing University LIU Jiakun

Yale University HUA Li WEI Na MA Yansong LU Yichen HUANG Shengyuan

Chinese educated architects pay more

MIT GE Wenjun

attention to the functional applicability and

tend

to

goal-driven

design.

American cultivated architects prefer de unique sensory experience.

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Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A Projects are schools in high-density cities with almost the same functions.

The architect on the left pays more attention to functional applicability and spatial efficiency. The right one focuses on the users' multi-dimensional roaming routes and presenting these changes in the form.

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Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A These two projects are very similar.

The architects adopted almost the same design strategy to transform the historical area, connecting the blocks via corridors. The left one puts more emphasis on symbiosis with de environment, while de other tries to weaken the structure, make the roof more light, and achieve narrative by setting specific spaces, promote the users‘ memory points in de experience.

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Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A The two projects are also located in similar urban areas. They use a similar main plan. The left tiled the functions on the ground for a smooth and rhythmic exhibition flow. The other uses a concentrated space to emphasize de experience..

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Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A Two hotels are on the edge of dense cities. The left one creates an atmosphere of classical Chinese literature with the centralized and private space. The right one increases the narrative and interest of design via connected scenes and expresses regionality.

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Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A

Case Analysis | P R A C T I C E I N C H I N A This group of comparison is two concentrated

exhibition

projects

in

dense cities. These two excellent teams present interesting differences in design orientations. The left one emphasizes the flow of roaming and deepens the traffic function into a memorable space.

The right provides more diversity in the route, leaving open spaces upward, or narrative spaces, in the crowded city.

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CHAPTER 4 CHORUS WITH AMERICA 4.1 American-Chinese vs American-American 4.2 Sparkles between America and China 4.3 Exports from China

long history and modern culture, what are the ties between the Chinese architectural believers and native American architects?

Case Analysis | C O M P A R E W I T H A M E R I C A

The ancient East and the young United States,

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American-Chinese VS. American-American | C O M P A R E W I T H A M E R I C A

fifth generation of Chinese architects was cultivated in the U.S.A., some native American architecture students also studied hard with the famous American architects. They are now the backbone of the American architectural

American-Chinese VS. American-American | C O M P A R E W I T H A M E R I C A

During the same period when the

community, conducting a large number of brilliant works in the U.S. 30

CHAPTER 5 AFTER THE CRUSADE 5.1 Gains & Losses 5.2 Following Progress

|AFTER THE CRUSADE The crusade is still underway. What are the gains and losses of the two countries in this massive pilgrimage? Where will the future go?

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