Reginald Y W Kwok
Why are Asian cities such confused mixtures of modern high-rises, dilapidated traditional buildings and opulent ornate new edifices? The course is designed for students who are curious about the Asian city landscapes, and discusses how to read and interpret Asian cities. To better understand the origin and development of the Asian urban form, local culture and traditions, state and society, and modern western concepts are reviewed as the key factors determining the present Asian architecture and urban form. The approach is interdisciplinary, combining social sciences and art history.
The course explores the ecological and political basis of urban form. The traditional Asian architecture and indigenous urban landscape provide the historical foundation for contemporary Asian cities. Embracing modernization, Asian cities have incorporated imported western design concepts which dominate current urban development. The mixture and juxtaposition of modernism and traditionalism as expressed in urban form are examined in selected major Asian cities, demonstrating the evolutionary path of Asian cities.
Climate and built environment, civil society and national state, architectural traditions (China, Japan, Southeast Asia), religious built forms (Buddhist, Shinto, Islamic), geomancy (Fengshui), garden landscaping (China, Japan), contemporary urban design principles, industrialized and globalized cityscape, conservation and preservation, morphology of Asian urban space (Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore), evolution of Asian urban form.
One urban design project review, and one final take-home essay examination.