Research On The Development Of Architectural History And Theory In South China University Of Technology

Architectural History and Theory is an indispensable part of Chinese Architectural discipline.It has played an important role in inheriting Chinese architectural culture,protecting urban and architectural heritage,and promoting architectural design.Guangdong Provincial College of Industry,the predecessor of South China University of Technology,is one of the earliest institutions to offer education on Architectural History and Theory.It has a long history of running schools and has formed distinct disciplinary characteristics.Architectural scholars have constructed a clear and logical system of Architectural History and Theory,established several characteristic directions,and obtained rich theoretical achievements.In the recent years,the Reform and Opening-up Policy,urbanization development and information technology have invigorated the development of Architectural Design and Theory,while Architectural History and Theory have become increasingly marginal.However,Architectural History and Theory,which take the development processes,evolution and dynamic mechanism of ancient and modern cities,architecture and gardens as the main research objects of their disciplines,as the cornerstone of Architecture development,has its uniqueness and important value.The memorabilia of South China Architecture and the special studies of early South China Architecture Education laid the foundation for the study of the academic history of South China Architecture.The memorabilia are conducive to the overall understanding of Architecture in South China,while the discussion of secondary disciplines still needs to be refined.Research on early architectural education in South China focuses on the educational situation before the Cultural Revolution,with detailed content and clear context,but didn't mention the discipline development after the Reform and Opening policy.In fact,the recent40 years since the Reform and Opening policy is an important stage in the development of Chinese architecture.It is a period in which South China University of Technology can establish a doctoral program and construct the characteristic direction of the discipline.Architectural scholars propose the basic theories of Architecture,set up school-based curriculum,and optimized the system of architectural theory and education.The academic and educational characteristics of Architectural History and Theory in South China University of Technology will not be highlighted without discussing the discipline development after the Reform and Opening Policy.This research takes the development process and academic contribution of the Architectural History and Theory in South China University of Technology as the object,supplemented by the discussion of discipline education and project practice,focusing on the analysis of theoretical achievements since 1932,and exploring the reasons and conditions of discipline development,which hopes to provide experience for the South China University of Technology and other universities.In order to clarify the evolution and impetus of Architectural History and Theory,this research divides the Architectural History and Theory in South China University of Technology into three stages: incubation period(1932-1949),initial period(1949-1976)and expansion period(1976 to present).During the incubation period,the discipline was budding growth,which is specifically manifested in the introduction of modern architectural education systems,the establishment of Chinese and foreign architectural history courses,and the development of early architectural history research.The characteristics of initial period is the theoretical foundation,which is manifested in the development of postgraduate education and the improvement of the architectural education system;scholars in South China organized surveying and mapping of traditional architecture and gardens,and the characteristics of the discipline have emerged;subtropical architecture theory helps the research of architectural history.Those laid the foundation for theoretical development after the Reform and Opening Policy.The characteristic of the expansion period is discipline development and growth.Doctoral program of architectural history and modern architectural theory has been successfully approved.The architectural historical education becomes more systematic,regional and thematic.Multiple characteristic directions gradually emerged,and theoretical research guided project practice.This paper summarizes the law of the development of architectural history and theory in South China University of Technology,and holds that good pedigree,frequent academic exchanges,advanced technical means,stable social environment and strong academic support are favorable conditions for the development of the discipline,among which academic pedigree is the core issue and key link.This paper discusses the development and innovation of characteristic research directions,for example,the disaster-prevention of architecture and ancient cities,traditional settlements and vernacular buildings,and Lingnan Garden History and Theory.Based on the overall understanding of the development of architectural history and theory in South China University of technology,the paper attempts to clarify the innovative value and academic contribution of the discipline.The South China University of Technology has established the concept of building safety,constructed several sub research branches of ancient building flood control,fire prevention,lightning protection,wind protection,earthquake protection and defense.Three stages of building safety courses has been developed,which highlights the discipline attribute of architectural disaster-prevention.This university collected and interpretted the academic discourse of Vernacular Architecture,promoted the multidisciplinary development of it,and demonstrated the necessity of establishing a discipline of Chinese Vernacular Architecture.The university pay attention to education in the vernacular construction,organized academic conferences,compiled collection of conference papers and yearbooks of vernacular architecture,and disseminated the latest academic achievements.The University proposed the core concept of Lingnan Garden,expanded studying content of Lingnan Garden,and enriched the theoretical system of Chinese traditional garden in the aspects of landscape history,aesthetics,physics and landscape architecture.With the help of the pedigree,architectural scholars promoted the formation and development of academic discourse,researched content and discipline theory,promoted the breeding and improvement of characteristic direction,and realized the discipline innovation.Discipline innovation reactted on academic discourse and other aspects,formed a common architectural concept,and enhanced the cohesion and creativity of the academic team.Architectural History and Theory is the foundation,core and guidance of architectural development.This article adopts the research method of architectural history.Through comparative analysis,experience induction and logical deduction,it reviews the development of Architectural History and Theory in South China University of technology.It explains the stage characteristics and development law of architecture,summarizes the academic contributions and grasps the academic development trends.Driven by the academic pedigree,the discipline has formed the overall characteristics of pragmatism,topicality and regionalism.The School of architecture,the State Key Laboratory of subtropical architectural science and Architectural Design and Research Institute have cooperated to build a discipline development mode of "creation-study-research cooperation",which provides reference for the future development of Chinese architecture,urban and rural planning and landscape architecture.