A Study Of The Forms And Culture Of Urumqi Regional Architecture

In the process of the evolution and modernization of Chinese cities, our cities and architecture are losing their traditional uniqueness. We frequently find people searching for the meaning of regional architecture through its physical character and its history. Can we create an environment that is modern and functional and yet still connected to its history? The author hopes that contemporary architecture can become an embodiment of culture, reflecting a nation's history and religious beliefs through an architect's hands.Urumqi has pluralistic cultural characteristics, and the architecture has many diversified forms. Architectural styles and types are complex. In trying to understand architecture we look for the essence of a place, its spirit, its ethos, which is connected to its location by both physical form as well as cultural factors.This paper consists of six chapters, which are organized into three sections.Section One (Chapter 1) discusses some general ideas about the topic, the purpose and goals of the study, and the paper's organization.Section Two (Chapters 2 to 5) concentrates on inquiries into background conditions and restrictive factors in the formation and development of various forms of Urumqi regional architecture. Cases and photographs are used to illustrate the pluralistic forms of Urumqi regional architecture and their cultural meanings. Different methods and dynamics of interpreting various interrelated factors are explored. The author analyses the way Xinjiang architects obtain balance between history and innovation, and achieve the protection of the local environment and culture while solving practical problems.After analyzing the function, form and pluralistic cultural characteristics, the paper tries to understand the spirit of a region and place. It discusses the border, space, climate and form, and explores the modern connotation of Urumqi regional architectural culture, to create modern architecture with a regional style.The paper summarizes some innovative architectural techniques such as: reappearance and abstraction; contrast and assimilation; symbols and metaphor; and ecology. The architectural treatment strives to reflect a multi-cultural tradition typical in northwest China. The design fuses modern building technology with architectural elements of the local ethnic people, thus creating a building of clear local character. The structure takes after the traditional Islamic architectural forms: the combination of rectangles and circles, high rising corner towers, round and vigorous outlines, and pointed arch windows. The architecture has adapted the traditional Islamic architectural style in an abstract sense to bestow a new meaning, displaying a strong Xinjiang local charm. The design follows the local courtyard layout pattern, to comply with the traditional style of residential houses. This account of the International Fair Trade Market reflects the designer's comprehension of he modernity, nation and region in specific circumstances and the expression of them in works.Section Three (Chapter 6) is the conclusion. After appraising the recent development of Urumqi's regional architecture, the paper summarizes the characteristics of form and culture of Urumqi's regional architecture, and forecasts its future direction. Hopefully it will be helpful to future architectural design.