Mapping China: Urbanisation - 5 Cultural Identity of Chinese Cities: The Identity of Chinese Modern Architecture

The rapid urbanization has been haunted with a sense of cultural crisis about its leading to monontonous cities. The eagerness of Chinese architects to establish the identity of Chinese modern architecture is even more intense than it was in the last century. They have striven to look for ways to assert their locality in a global conversation.

Wang Shu’s winning of the Pritzker Prize in 2012 was a big encouragement. It has been followed by a wide recognition and implementation of traditional Chinese architectural techniques. Materials such as bamboo and tiles are now being applied in large public facilities, while traditional spatial elements such as courtyards and screen walls are being created in modern constructions.

A more important shift among Chinese architects is a growing self-awareness and recognition of their role in an urbanising society. They used to complain fiercely that foreign architects were dominating the discourse and construction in Chinese cities. During the years when the country was seen as a gigantic construction site, urban landmarks always wanted the signature of a star architect from the West. The CCTV tower in Beijing designed by Rem Koolhaas became the epitome of such confrontation.

The cooling down of capital pouring into property development in the past two years has affected both Chinese and foreign architects. But it has also offered an opportunity, especially for the Chinese side, to bring up their new-found sense of engagement in building the identity of cities. Purely spatial engagement has turned into social commitment. Intervention projects, in both the urbanised and rural areas, are being undertaken voluntarily. In Beijing, young architects are turning undesirable underground rental apartments into productive community spaces. In Moganshan, a group of architects are working as designers/managers of rural spaces, an important role in the revitalisation of rural culture.