Bejing Solarscape: A Visual Anthropology

Beijing’s architecture through its relationship to the sky

Research Paper (postgraduate) , 2012 , 67 Pages

Art - Architecture / History of Construction

This book will be the first to offer an analysis of a city through its upper zone and the distinctive architectural features that make up this zone, at once a mode of human experience and a unit of the environment which exceeds single buildings, and so to deploy specially developed concepts (previously used in performance theory and ritual analysis and applied to the image) to further the analysis of the urban scene. What will be described will be a ‘felt environment’ allied to a rhetoric of architecture based upon an entirely original way of dividing up, or conceptualizing, urban space.. This book will offer an insightful yet playful decoding of our experience of the built environment applied to Beijing as an exciting, largely newly-built world-city, whose buildings stand in need of a commentary – especially the official ones and, by no means least, the ‘big name’ ones (CCTV and the Olympic/National stadium or ‘Bird’s Nest’).

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction: ‘Looking up’.
• PART ONE: The Persistence of Tradition.
  • (Chapter 1) The Lure of Inherited Forms.
  • Interlude. Architectural Debates: The Space/Place Problem.
  • (Chapter 2) Chinese Whispers.
  • Episode: Architecture and Desire.
• PART TWO: The Shock of the New. The 20th Century.
  • (Chapter 3) Building the Tower of Babel. The Skyscraper Tradition.
  • Interlude. Architectural Debates: Illusionism & Ideology.
  • (Chapter 4) City of Glass. Modernism & Beyond.
• PART THREE: A Unitary Vision? Cityscapes, Old & New.
  • (Chapter 5) Reading Architecture! Points of Orientation.
    • i/ Whose stand-point? Horizon v Stand-alones
    • ii/ Points of view. Pointed Roof v Flat Roof Traditions
  • Afterword: Evolution of the Eye.

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This book explores the evolution of Beijing's skyline as a visual representation of the city's cultural and architectural development. It examines how recent architectural changes have transformed the city's visual landscape, particularly the focus on the "Solar" – the topmost level of urban architecture. The text analyzes the motivations behind these changes, highlighting the interplay of tradition, modernity, and cultural identity.

• The evolution of Beijing's skyline and its relationship to cultural identity
• The role of the "Solar" in shaping the city's visual experience
• Architectural debates surrounding tradition, modernity, and the "Space/Place" problem
• The impact of economic factors on architectural design and urban development
• The role of the skyline as a symbol of collective responsibility and shared identity

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The introduction explores the concept of the "Solar" and its significance in understanding the evolution of the Beijing skyline. It emphasizes the importance of the "Solar" as a visual indicator of cultural identity and architectural ambition.
• Chapter 1 examines the legacy of traditional Chinese architectural forms and their influence on modern Beijing. The chapter analyzes how these inherited forms are integrated into contemporary buildings, creating a visual dialogue between past and present.
• Chapter 2 delves into the contemporary urban landscape of Beijing, exploring how architectural design and cultural influences intersect. It discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid development of the city, focusing on the "Chinese Whispers" of architectural styles and trends.
• Chapter 3 investigates the impact of the skyscraper tradition on Beijing's skyline. The chapter explores the evolution of skyscraper design in the city, from its early modern phases to the emergence of distinctive contemporary architectural styles.
• Chapter 4 examines the role of modernism and postmodernism in shaping Beijing's visual landscape. It analyzes the interplay of architectural styles and ideologies, highlighting the city's transformation from a predominantly traditional urban environment to a dynamic blend of modern and traditional elements.
• Chapter 5 provides a framework for understanding the visual elements of Beijing's architecture, focusing on the "Points of Orientation" that shape the cityscape. The chapter analyzes different perspectives on the skyline, exploring how the interplay of traditional and modern architectural forms contributes to the city's unique visual identity.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts of the text include: Solar, Beijing skyline, urban architecture, cultural identity, traditional architecture, modern architecture, skyscraper tradition, architectural debates, visual rhetoric, cityscape, points of orientation.

• Author: Peter Nesteruk (Author)
• Publication Year: 2012
• Pages: 67
• Catalog Number: V190197
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656148838
• ISBN (Book): 9783656148951
• Language: English
• Tags: beiojing