Exporting Chinese Architecture: History, Issues and “One Belt One Road”

Description

This book studies the unexplored history of China-aided architecture erected in the developing world since the 1950s. By 2019, over 1,000 buildings had been delivered to more than 160 countries, including parliament houses, convention centers, stadiums, gymnasiums, theaters, schools, hospitals, libraries, railways, and stations. These projects, which have played a significant role in promoting economic transformation, cultural engagement and social and environmental well-being, have largely been overlooked or misunderstood by the international community. Why did China donate so many foreign-aid buildings? How were these buildings built in the remote land of developing countries with intricate influences and limited resources? Have they helped modernize the recipient countries? The authors of this book use a wide range of representative projects built in different historic periods and geographical locations as case studies to address the above questions from various perspectives.  This book fills an enormous gap in modern architecture in China and the world. It offers architectural students and scholars in various disciplines the necessary knowledge on "diplomatic architecture"; informs architects the appropriate methods of cross-border design and low-tech building; teaches government officials the best practice of donating and receiving foreign-aid buildings; and enhances public awareness of cultural diversity in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. With abundant first-hand materials, historical pictures, and drawings, the book is a must-read for those who are interested in modern architecture and developmental aid in the world.  China’s architecture abroad, notably in Africa and Asia, has been perceived with both fascination and anxiety. Based on a wealth of sources often difficult to access for scholars from outside China, this book links the history and present of China’s architectural mobilities in ways that will stimulate new debates in architectural history and urban studies.  - Łukasz Stanek, Professor of Architectural History, The University of Manchester, UK   Preface Contents Editors and Contributors Part I Historic Narrative 1 Exporting Chinese Architecture: A Historical Perspective 1.1 Exporting Modernist Architecture 1.2 China’s Foreign-Aided Construction 1.3 From Diplomatic Maneuvers to Building Technology 1.4 Structure of the Book References 2 New China and the New World: Three Lines to Understand China's Early Architectural Foreign Aid 2.1 Style: Export Versus Import 2.2 Material: Politics of Productive Space 2.3 Geography: The Tropical and the Regional Issues 2.4 Closing References 3 Aesthetics and Politics of China's Foreign Aid Buildings from the 1950s to 1970s 3.1 Introduction 3.2 China’s Foreign Aid and Foreign Aid Architecture, 1950s–70s 3.3 Absorbing Post-War Modernism 3.4 Chinese Modernism and Its Aesthetics and Politics 3.5 Conclusion References 4 Diplomacy of Architecture: Ghana, China and 60 Years of Spatial Engagement 4.1 Ghana-China Relations: Historical Background in Outline 4.2 Nkrumah’s Statecraft, China and the Emergence of Construction and the Diplomacy of Architecture 4.3 China’s Power Designs in Ghana: Soft or Sharp? 4.4 The Ghanaian Establishment and Chinese Soft Power Tactics 4.5 Ghana’s Resilience to China’s Soft Power in the Maw of the Diplomacy of Architecture 4.6 A Conclusion Cast as an Appeal References 5 Traveling Ideas: Appropriation and Identity in the China-Sri Lanka Architectural Exchanges 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Geopolitics and China-Sri Lanka Relations 5.3 Initial Encounter with Sri Lanka 5.4 The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall 5.5 The Ideas of “Appropriation” 5.6 The Materiality of “Appropriation” 5.7 The Continuity of “Appropriation” 5.8 A Reversed “Appropriation” 5.9 Conclusion References Part II Cross-Border Practice of Design and Construction 6 Chinese Medical Projects in Africa: A Case Study of Mahusekwa Hospital in Zimbabwe 6.1 Chinese Medical Projects in Africa 6.1.1 Free Aid to Africa (1956–1978) 6.1.2 Rational Aid to Africa (1979–1995) 6.1.3 Institutionalised Aid to Africa (1996–2021) 6.2 Construction Background 6.3 Mahusekwa Hospital 6.4 Social Impact of the Project 6.4.1 Impact on Economic Development 6.4.2 Impact on Social Services 6.4.3 Impact on Social Compatibility 6.4.4 Impact on the Natural Environment 6.5 Conclusion References 7 Implementation Mode and Impact Perception of Chinese Aid Projects in Africa—A Case Study of the Parliament Building, Malawi 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Implementation Mode of Chinese Aid Projects in Africa 7.3 An Overview of Chinese Aid Projects in Malawi 7.4 The Architectural Design and Implementation Mode of the Malawi Parliament Building 7.5 Local Public Perceptions of Social Impact and the Turnkey Implementation Mode 7.5.1 Perceptions of Social Impact 7.5.2 Satisfaction with the Turnkey Implementation Mode 7.6 Conclusion and Discussion References 8 Schooling for the Future—Aided Education Buildings 8.1 International Education Aid: From “Hardware” Construction to “Software” Support 8.2 China’s Education Aid: “Hardware” and “Software” Go Hand in Hand 8.3 Major Types of China’s Foreign-Aided Schools 8.3.1 Schools for Deprived Groups: To Promote Education Equality 8.3.2 Schools of Vocational and Police Training: To Promote Employment, Eliminate Poverty and Improve Social Security 8.3.3 Schools of Politics and Diplomacy: To Nurture and Cultivate the Next Generation of Leaders and Managers 8.3.4 The Confucius Institutes: To Promote Cultural Communication 8.4 Conclusion: Building a New Humanistic Hope References 9 Embedded Support: Chinese Aid Projects in the Horn of Africa—Case Studies of Djibouti City and Addis Ababa 9.1 Urban Development and International Aid Projects in the Horn of Africa 9.2 Chinese Aid Projects in a Post-Colonial City: A Case Study of Djibouti City 9.2.1 Characteristics of Djibouti’s Urban Space 9.2.2 Aid Projects and Urban Spaces 9.3 Chinese Aid Projects in a Self-Developed Urban Space: A Case Study of Addis Ababa 9.3.1 Characteristics of Addis Ababa’s Urban Space 9.3.2 Aid Projects and Urban Spaces 9.4 Discussion and Conclusion References Part III One Belt One Road 10 Architecture of Eclecticism: China’s Architectural Projects in Pakistan (2001–2019) 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Locating the Research in Export–Import Architecture Criticism 10.3 Architecture of “Common Space” in Case of Pakistan China Friendship Center 10.3.1 Architecture for Other? Gwadar Free Zone 10.4 Transcultural Architecture, “Contact Zone” and “Third Space” 10.5 Conclusion References 11 18 Years of Overseas Design Practice of CCDI Group as a Complex Journey 11.1 From “Foreign Aid Project” to “International Integration” 11.2 Direct Output: Design Firms Wining Overseas Projects by Providing Technical Support for the General Contractor of Construction 11.3 Indirect Output: Design Firms Set up or Acquiring Design Firms Abroad to Indirectly Carry Out Overseas Practice 11.4 Compound Output: Following the Overseas Investment of Chinese Developers to Realize Full Professional Compound Design Output References 12 Architects’ Foreign Aid Design Practice: The National Stadium of Cambodia and China-Cambodian Friendship Hospital 12.1 China’s Aid to Cambodia 12.2 A Brief Introduction of Cambodian Modern Architecture 12.2.1 History of Modern Architecture in Cambodia 12.2.2 Features of Cambodian Modern Architecture 12.2.3 Cambodian National Sports Complex 12.3 Cambodia National Stadium 12.3.1 Cultural Authenticity 12.3.2 Design Principles 12.3.3 Low Maintenance Construction Practices 12.4 The China–Cambodia Friendship Hospital 12.4.1 The Goal of Low Energy Consumption and High Quality 12.4.2 Green Building Design Standards Suitable for Cambodia 12.4.3 Low Energy Consumption Design 12.4.4 Realize High-Quality Methods 12.5 The Practice of Refined Design 12.6 Conclusion 13 Comparison of Chinese-Invested Shopping Malls in Georgia and China 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Literature Review and Theories on Shopping Malls, Urbanisation and the B&R 13.2.1 Shopping Malls and Urbanisation 13.2.2 The Belt & Road Initiative 13.3 Analytic Model and Research Methods 13.4 Case Study 1: Hualing Integrated Market and Urumqi 13.4.1 Hualing Integrated Market, Urumqi and the B&R 13.4.2 Site 13.4.3 Design and Activities 13.4.4 Urban Impact 13.5 Case Study 2: Hualing Tbilisi Sea Plaza and Tbilisi 13.5.1 Hualing Tbilisi Sea Plaza, Tbilisi and the B&R 13.5.2 Site 13.5.3 Design and Activities 13.5.4 Urban Impact 13.6 Discussion and Conclusion 13.6.1 The Shopping Mall 13.6.2 On the Relationship with Urbanisation 13.6.3 On the B&R References Index