Modern Chinese Architecture
China has long since evolved from its pagoda structures, wooden columns, and colorful décor. These were the symbols of traditional Chinese architecture and it has existed for centuries under different dynasties. However, the modern age has allowed cultures to intermingle and ground-breaking ideas to generate, and this has impacted and altered Chinese architecture and art extensively.
Ever since the end of the Opium War, British soldiers accessed China through several international ports. They began living in the country as ex-pats or including themselves in the trade back to their own countries, making them a large part of China’s economy and culture. It was during this time when Western ideas were shared with Chinese contemporaries, creating a newly opened faucet for modern creativity to flow through.
Yet, the blend of Western and Eastern ideas took a few years to materialize in the form of art and architecture. Most Chinese buildings already displayed loyalty towards traditional Chinese architectural styles and very few people envisioned a modernistic China. This continued on until the 20th century when the People’s Republic of China came into form.
From Traditionalism to Modernity: A History of China’s Architecture
China has always been a rapidly developing nation, owing to the host of creative minds and scholars inhabiting its population. From the Neolithic period to the Ming and Qing dynasties, ancient architecture moved in an undulating form through mud-beaten houses into detailed wall and wooden carvings before approaching the modern precedence.
The Neolithic period literally set the groundwork for Chinese traditional architecture, where people would build buildings around moats that they had dug. The use of moats around buildings existed as a trademark architectural feature for centuries before being lost.
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From intricate carvings, strong fort-like walls, pictorial bronze walls to a list of other styles, Chinese traditional architecture developed and integrated mechanisms that would safeguard their buildings from foreign attacks as well as look beautiful and sacred. These were the key elements that defined traditionalism in Chinese architecture.
Modern architecture, on the other hand, incorporates sleek and streamlined concepts that are more visually appealing. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, the consequent economic reformations created a demand for modern buildings. This is when the idea of Westernised Chinese architecture upshot into reality.
Due to population levels rocketing upwards and the urbanisation becoming more imminent, China needed to consider and implement faster construction techniques. This forced architects to relinquish the meticulousness with which they designed buildings and choose minimalistic designs which still produced a feeling of elegance.
Currently, China dominates the world’s focus on modern and cutting-edge architectural structures. There are numerous projects underway which aims to fortify China’s urban environments while also providing trendy and comfortable spaces for foreigners to admire and potentially invest in.
The speediness with which China has transposed their traditional architecture principles to contemporary and modern environments is entirely fascinating, as one Italian architect comments, ‘China is today a place to be… China is giving great architects amazing opportunities at this moment through financial power, a very fast decision process and a physically fast construction. In the time they build a tower there, we build a little house.’
The Defining Styles of Chinese Modern Architecture
Unlike the traditional emphasis on colors, carvings, and intricacies, modern Chinese architecture focuses on a limited palette in styles and techniques. They are usually composed of futuristic buildings with a greater focus on depth and height. Symmetry plays a key position in the design of all new buildings, where places such as the Galaxy Soho or the Grand Hyatt hotel exemplifies the use of the symmetrical composition.
Furthermore, these modern designs are often very clean. They include geometrical shapes and lines which do not mingle together in a complex manner. Most of the buildings and structures use only one or two types of shapes to design the entire property. This develops either a playful or a sophisticated look within the whole structure.
Most of the buildings use glass windows largely in order to create a polished Western look. It draws in more light inside and offers a meditative and natural quality indoors.
Famous architects in China heavily prioritize stylistic expression within their designs. Some prefer to build a dramatic quality by constructing structures on large open spaces, for instance, the Alila Yangshuo Hotel. Others choose to showcase their work amidst throngs of city-movers with exceptionally futuristic designs such as Ma Yansong’s Chaoyang Park Plaza.
The Unsteadiness in China’s Architectural Style
Despite a few Chinese architects having earned global fame from their work, China generally has been criticized for the lack of consistency in their architectural development. Most commercial and government spaces are designed with beautiful styles and techniques, but international critics believe China is still searching for its identity in the global architectural scene.
An architect commented on the New York Times that China is very confused with how it can create refined buildings. He finds that rapid urbanization is causing people to hurry up their processes and lose the focus on quality over quantity, ‘Everyone is encouraged to do their most stupid and extravagant designs there. They don’t have as much barrier between good taste and bad taste between minimal and expressive.’
This criticism is partly true. China’s metropolis is dominated by towering skyscrapers which are built with little concentration on architecture and more emphasis on accommodating their population. Modern architecture is also a new concept in China. It is difficult for them to already develop a style that was formerly foreign to them. So, it can only be with more Chinese architects experimenting with new styles and designs that China can find its own identity.
This does not mean we should look past the handful of structures already built by modern architects in China. Ma Yansong, Han Wenqiang along with an array of other architects have put their feet forward to revolutionize China’s architectural landscape. Forthcoming generations of architects can further heighten this change as Gong Dong, the founder of Vector Architects in Beijing, notes, ‘China is still moving towards seeking its architectural identity. I don’t believe that one architect or building can represent the national aesthetic. It takes time, but I think we’re on the way.’
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