“They” and “We” — History of Western Architects’ Practice in China

Abstract

In this paper, “they” refers to all foreign designers who have practiced in China. “They” has never changed, but in the increasingly globalized world, “we” has become something unrecognizable. The moment “they” emerged as a concept in Chinese design culture, was the exact moment “we” needed a definition for “we”. Historically, western architects who have had significant impacts on Chinese architecture are little known in their home countries. At the same time, “we” are so afraid of losing ourselves that we have been made afraid of our own shadows. With the influx of foreign designers, we have trapped ourselves in a dilemma of identity. There is no problem with learning from the West, but the problem is that China has become soaked in pragmatism and opportunism. Looking back at western architects’ gains and losses in Chinese architecture over the 20th Century, such worries stem from lessons and experiences that could have been learned long ago.

Keywords

They / We / Overseas Practices

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press