From "Composition Upon Drawings" To "Modelling Upon Images"

A large number and various kinds of "reference portfolio for architectural design" have played an important role in architectural design practice in China.They don’t only provide a great deal of materials for design,but rather are used as one kind of primary means for architectural training and design.Therefore,through the study of of "reference portfolio" from the 1930s to 1950s in terms of discursive formation,this thesis attempts to reveal the transition of the ideas of architectural design in China during this period-from "composition upon drawings" of the"Beaux-arts",to“imitating upon images”in 1930s China,then to“modelling upon images”in the 1950s.“Composition upon drawings”is one of the most important means for architectural training and design in the "Beaux-arts" system.It is composing "elements" with some principles in plan,section and elevation based upon measured drawings of western classical architecture.This method along with the "Beaux-arts" system was introduced from the USA to China in 1920s.Through combing and analyzing massive drawings and documents,the thesis unfolds the close relationship between architectural "design" and architectural "drawing",which was established in the Renaissance time,when the modern profession-"architect"-emerged.Then,by comparing with the emergence of Chinese modern "architect" and architectural "design" in early 20^th century,it discusses the remarkable difference between these two processes.Furthermore,the examination focuses on the adjustments in the transplanting and spreading of this "Beaux-Arts" means in China through close reading of related drawings and documents."Modelling upon images" represents another kind of architectural design principles and methods which is modelling and imitating specific forms from reference images relying on aesthetic feelings.It is also a result of the significant change in institution of "reference portfolio for architectural design" in China after 1930s.Based on analytical and comparative reading of Reference Portfolio for Architectural Design（by LIANG Sicheng and LIU Zhiping in the 1930s）and those vernacular architecture studies for Reference Portfolio for Chinese Architecture（by Chinese Architecture Research Institute in the 1950s）,and investigation of design cases,this thesis attempts to reveal the transition of ideas of architectural design beyond the "Beaux-Arts" in 1930s to 1950s China,from "Composition upon drawings"-a precise "composition" in orthographic drawings,to "Modelling upon images"-a perceptual "modelling" in three dimensions.The characteristics and reasons of this transition are also fully discussed.In a greater extent,the study also provides a new interpretation of the concepts of architectural "design" in modern China.