The problems I have been seen during Chinese urbanization in large cities is very obvious like unorganized planning and reconstruction. The questions I have been asking my self for long time is as following, how contexts have became fragmentary, what means modernization in Chinese point of view, what is the value of disappearing historical urban morphology, what architecture instead of larger scale of reconstituting like urban design and planning could do to urban morphology, how to keep balance between preserving and rebuilding.
Why is it important? I consider the urban context form is in a continuous process, while new constructions are not necessarily disturbing. But the problem is that lots of new constructions in China are purposeless and they are disturbing. And the risky part is losing not only urban characters but also recognizable images. And architecture’s functions should be repairing the fragmentary or at least the buffering part between site and the surrounding context.
Approach? 1. look into the local circulation of neighborhood, uses. Like what Ms Ho said last week, I agree that the site with more limits would be a better choice as a thesis project. The limits would become principles to sharp the environment and pre-requisites the building program and concepts. The site I am looking into should be avoiding to locate in a clear land but in a situation that addresses more urban activities.
2. precedents: There are several precedents reflects the theme about art and landscape.
Nelson Atkins Museum of Art by Steven Holl
See the small print. Normally inclusions like furniture are included in the mortgage, but there will be a seperate form at negotiation. The vendor must pay taxes on personal property sold. Their problem, not yours. But it all hangs on what you mark.