Introduction
by: Bernard Leupen, Hai Lin and Meng Sun
For ages the Chinese had a circular concept of time. Since the fast developments of the last decades the circular concept is taken over more and more by a dynamic concept. China's fast development in the last decades puts a lot of things upside down. City's and even buildings are now more static entity's as the where for ages. The fast changes asked or a dynamic and time-based vision on architecture.
New architecture
In most of the publications on Chinese architecture to day, we see fast growing cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen. We see huge apartment buildings, all kinds of office and serving buildings in a fan of architectures from neo modern, to neo classical, from neo baroque to post modern. Most of them belong to bigness and XXL buildings. Between this overkill of images we seldom see authentic new Chinese architecture.
On of the first published projects which gives an other vision on new Chinese architecture is the Suitcase house by Gary Chang, Edge Design Institute. The design is an interesting reinterpretation of the traditional wooden Chinese house. A open room gives space to al kinds of dwelling activities. The space it selves is generic. All the specific elements are built in below the main floor. By opening a hinging floor element the specific element can provide a specific function like cooking, bathing or working.
The projects
Tongming’s own studio, Architect: Tongming, Shanghai (2003)
By Qing Li
Gary's Apartment, Gary Chang - Edge Design Institute, Island East, Hong Kong (2007)
By Meng Sun
Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House Renovation, Architect Peizhu, Beijing (2007)
By Bernard Leupen
Suquan Yuan tea house, Architect: Tongming, Suzhou (2007)
By Qing Li
by: Bernard Leupen, Hai Lin and Meng Sun
For ages the Chinese had a circular concept of time. Since the fast developments of the last decades the circular concept is taken over more and more by a dynamic concept. China's fast development in the last decades puts a lot of things upside down. City's and even buildings are now more static entity's as the where for ages. The fast changes asked or a dynamic and time-based vision on architecture.
New architecture
In most of the publications on Chinese architecture to day, we see fast growing cities like Shanghai and Shenzhen. We see huge apartment buildings, all kinds of office and serving buildings in a fan of architectures from neo modern, to neo classical, from neo baroque to post modern. Most of them belong to bigness and XXL buildings. Between this overkill of images we seldom see authentic new Chinese architecture.
On of the first published projects which gives an other vision on new Chinese architecture is the Suitcase house by Gary Chang, Edge Design Institute. The design is an interesting reinterpretation of the traditional wooden Chinese house. A open room gives space to al kinds of dwelling activities. The space it selves is generic. All the specific elements are built in below the main floor. By opening a hinging floor element the specific element can provide a specific function like cooking, bathing or working.
The projects
Tongming’s own studio, Architect: Tongming, Shanghai (2003)
By Qing Li
Gary's Apartment, Gary Chang - Edge Design Institute, Island East, Hong Kong (2007)
By Meng Sun
Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House Renovation, Architect Peizhu, Beijing (2007)
By Bernard Leupen
Suquan Yuan tea house, Architect: Tongming, Suzhou (2007)
By Qing Li
Wuhan French and Chinese art center Architect Ke Zhang, Wuhan
By Meng Sun
By Meng Sun
Exhibition for CRC city, Gary Chang -- Edge Design Institute, Shenzhen (2008)
By Meng Sun
Water Tank for Goldfish, Architect Yansong Ma (2004)
By Hai Lin
By Meng Sun
Water Tank for Goldfish, Architect Yansong Ma (2004)
By Hai Lin