The Mu Garden: The Chinese Garden Rediscovered

摘要

China's cities are growing exponentially. As a result, the once vibrant urban heritage is being overshadowed by towering skyscrapers. In the face of such rapid globalization, it's a great challenge for China to preserve its unique national character. Through an exploration of the many cultural elements found within the traditional Chinese garden, this paper presents the garden as a model of reconciliation. Fully conscious of the demands of contemporary design, the roles of function and form are reconsidered from a cultural vantage point. As a case study of redefining traditional Chinese style, the Mu Garden for the Shanghai 2010 Expo is explored. While rooted in the grace and beauty of traditional Chinese gardens, the design also meets the sitespecific functional demands of a large touring public. Even after the Expo's conclusion, the park continues to encourage other designers and the general public as a symbol of China's glorious past and bountiful future.