Culture Reflections Embodied in Modern Architecture: An Analysis Symbolic Meanings of Classical Chinese Garden Design Elements and Principles

摘要

When people walk into a space or built environment, people should feel the design intention made manifest through visual cues. Amos Rapoport stated that the built environment holds meaning as part of a cultural system of symbols, and influences our actions and our determinations of social order [4]. It also has been a consensus that designers must understand the effect of the physical manifestation of design on people in the body of knowledge of the interior design profession [2]. Therefore, understanding the symbolic meanings conveyed by design elements become crucial for designers. This paper presents a case study of analysis of classical Chinese garden design elements including water, plants, architecture, rocks and tracery windows (borrowed views) in modern architecture designed by I.M. Pei. This case study has been used in teaching cross-cultural comparison of architecture course. The purpose of this case study is to reveal symbolic meanings that interpreted by classical Chinese garden design elements in modern architecture. Findings illustrate distinct design strategies of utilizing Chinese garden design philosophy and principles in modern architecture that embodies culture reflections. Findings also help students to further understand that the built environment conveys meaning as part of cultural system, which is one of the learning objectives of cross-cultural comparison of architecture course.