No_3_October_1962 — Page 102

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE IN"

CHINA

Ideology or objective reality?

PARKED off by the published

theories six months ago of Liang Ssu-cheng, Professor at Tsinghua University, on style in architecture, brisk and lively discussions have taken place in all parts of China.

The most recent was in the Kwang- tung province of South China where the Professor's declaration that man's ideology in the last analysis deter- mines architectural style was hotly debated at a series of seven forums of architects, engineers, planners and students, held in Canton.

The participants were from sixteen provincial and municipal bodies, with teachers and students from the Department of Architecture & En- gineering at the South China Institute.

That such a discussion. freely held, can take place in the totalitarian atmosphere of present-day China might be thought remarkable in itself; but for public disagreement with a theory so closely allied to political principles to be made known and publicised is also noteworthy.

Two delegates from the Canton municipal design office, Yu Chan-nan and Liang Chi-chieh thought the economic base rather than ideology influenced and controlled style, and they considered that both art and class ideology, being part of the superstructure of a society, are in the event, determined by economics.

Lu Luan-ting of the South China Institute and other academic parti- cipants upheld their professional comrade, in true scholastic-theoretical manner saying that 'style is a con- centrated reflection of social ideolo- gy, level of science and technology, and methods of designing under current historical conditions, deter- mined by the social system in which class and aesthetic viewpoint play a decisive role, and that historic tradi- tions, geography, climate, material resources and national customs mere- ly account for variety in style."

98

The head of the Institute, Chen Po- chi, brought the discussion back from this elevated plane by affirming that style is a reflection of objective real- ity; a mirror of its function expressed by the limitations of materials and structures.

In the new Workers' Gymnasium at Peking, cited as an example and claimed to be one of the world's most advanced designs, a suspended struc- ture 300 ft. in diameter has produced a new form and style. China's tradi- tional wide eaves protecting houses with mud walls and timber supports; horizontal windows in a reinforced concrete building but not in one of brick or stone, were mentioned.

Fourth-year students pointed out that China's new architectural style, to reflect the country's vigorous, flourishing, joyful socialist age can

be created with any material or tech. nology. Could they have had in mind the new Workers' Housing in Peking?

One participant observed, 'In this matter of inheriting and developing our architectural legacy we should critically examine the old, so that we can retain its essence but discard its dross. Then new things should be added so that we can make our build. ings better serve the people.'

The debate goes on, with some conflicts basically resolved, points of contention clarified, for from the time that the present Government took over, academic discussion, as an established practice, has become in- creasingly popular. This is good. (from the London Builder, 17 August 1962.)

CROWN LAND SALES (Continued from page 96)

District

San Po Kong

**

**

Kwun Tong

Chung Hom Kok

Tai Hang Road Black's Link Chai Wan

E+

??

Jardine's Lookout

Perkins Rd. Chatham Rd. Ho Man Tin

"

San Po Kong

11

PS

KTIL 394

RBL

817

RBL 818

IL 7905

RBL 824

Permitted Use

1

Lot No.

NKIL 4729

Approx Area in sq. ft.

Sale Dat

NKIL 4730

Industrial/Open Storage

5,225

Feb. 25

5,225

Feb. 25

NKIL 4731

Industrial

5,225

Feb. 25

KTIL 392

Residential

25,600

Feb. 25

KTIL 393

23,480

Feb. 25

50,400

Feb. 25

12,840

Mar. +

12,170

Mar. +

19,800

Mar. 4

32,530

Mar. 4

CWIL 11

Industrial/Godown/-

Open Storage

CWIL 12 CWIL

6,050

Mar. 1

6,100

Mar. 4

13

11,590

Mar. 4

IL 7906 KIL 8336

Residential

Commercial/Residential

44,600

Mar. 4

KIL 8337

22,600

Mar. 11

15.720

Mar. 11

KIL 8338

NKIL 4732

NKIL 4733

Industrial/Open Storage

17,820

Mar. 11

5,225

Mar. il

NKIL 4734

5,225

Mar. 11

Industria!

NKIL 4735 KTIL 395 KTIL 396 NKIL 4736

5,175

Mar. 11

Residential

5,225

Mar 11

46,400

Mar. 1!

NKIL 4737

Industrial/Open Storage

46,400

Mar. 11

5,225

Mar. 18

NKIL 4738

5,225

Mar. 18

Industria:

NKIL 4739

5,225

Mar. 18

Kwun Tong

KTIL 397

Industrial/Open Storage Residential

5,225

Mar. 18

"

KTIL 398

22,400

Mar. 18

"

KTIL 407

23,400

Mar. 18

Commercial/Residential

"

KTIL 408

4,250

Mar. 18

"

4,250

Mar. 18

**

KTIL 405

KTIL 403

4,250

Mar 18

J

NKIL 4740

NKIL 4741

Industrial

Industrial/Oper Storage

5,950

Mar. 18

5,225

Mar. 25

KTIL 399

5,175

Mar. 25

Residential

KTIL 400

24,500

Mar. 25

KTIL

404

KTIL 401

Commercial/Residentia.

29,330

Mar. 25

7,013

Mar. 25

KTIL 402

5,950

Mar. 3

KTIL 411

6,580

Mar. 25

KTIL 412

3,380

Mar. 25

KTIL 413

3,000

Mar. 25

3,250

Mar. 25

Kwun Tong San Po "Kong

"

San Po Kong

Kwun Tong

D

""

"

*

*

11

22

**

THE HONG KONG & FAR FAST BUILDER VOLUME 17, NUMBER 3