The Expo Axis is one of the world's largest membrane roofs . It spanned the entrance and boulevard building of the World Exposition 2010 in Shanghai .
68-620: The combination of the membrane structure, which has a surface of 65,000 m in total with a span of 100 m, and the six steelglass funnels of 45 m height, formed of a freeform double-curved framework, constitutes the landmark of the Expo Shanghai 2010. Besides the China Pavilion , the Expo Axis is the largest and most significant building on the site. It forms the central entrance area and provides 334,000 m effective area for numerous facilities. Via
136-435: A U-shape, with a courtyard suitable (e.g., for farm work). Merchants and bureaucrats preferred to close off the front with an imposing gate. All buildings were legally regulated, and the law required that the number of stories, the length of the building and the building colours reflect the owner's class. Some commoners living in areas plagued by bandits built communal fortresses called Tulou for protection. Often favoured by
204-519: A city. In this exhibition, two seven-minute films are alternately shown in the 1,071 square metre 700-seat theatre of the pavilion. The films are shown on three 22m-long by 7.5m-high projection screens and a 24m-diameter overhead dome. Both films reflect the social and urban impact of China's economic transformation . A world of greenness symbolizes the harmony between the people as well as that between Man and Nature in future Chinese cities. The Chinese-style development strategy of urban-rural integration
272-538: A common ritual center that linked them to a single symbolic order, but others developed more independently. The emergence of walled cities during this time is a clear indication that the political landscape was often unstable. The Hongshan culture of Inner Mongolia (located along the Laoha, Yingjin, and Daling rivers that empty into Bohai Bay ) was scattered over a large area but had a single, common ritual center of at least 14 burial mounds and altars over several ridges. It
340-474: A greater floor area ratio : thus, in cities the demand for traditional Chinese buildings (which are normally less than 3 levels) has declined in favor of high-rises. However, the traditional skills of Chinese architecture, including major and minor carpentry , masonry , and stonemasonry , are used in the construction of vernacular architecture in China's rural areas. Chinese civilizations and cultures developed in
408-506: A height of 84 m (276 ft), and although it served as the crowning pagoda of the Kaiyuan monastery in old Dingzhou, Hebei , it was also used as a military watchtower for Song dynasty soldiers to observe potential Liao dynasty troop movements. The architecture of the mosques and gongbei tomb shrines of Chinese Muslims often combines traditional Chinese styles with Middle Eastern influences. The royal and nonroyal tombs found in
476-625: A horizontal emphasis, and an allusion to various cosmological, mythological or in general symbolic elements. Chinese architecture traditionally classifies structures according to type, ranging from pagodas to palaces. Due to the frequent use of wood , a relatively perishable material, as well as few monumental structures built of more durable materials, much historical knowledge of Chinese architecture derives from surviving miniature models in ceramic and published diagrams and specifications. Although unifying aspects exist, Chinese architecture varies widely based on status or affiliation, such as whether
544-490: A large population, is a rational target. The China pavilion was designed to accommodate up to 50,000 visitors over the course of any given day. Despite the fact that 73 million people visited the Shanghai Expo over a six-month, only 10 million visitors were able to see the China pavilion due to the huge numbers. The pavilion opened for nearly 13 hours a day. While most pavilions were temporary structures and dismantled after
612-554: A series of gates and pavilions are used. Numerology influenced imperial architecture, hence the use of nine (the greatest single digit number) in much of construction and the reason why the Forbidden City in Beijing is said to have 9,999.9 rooms—just short of heaven's mythical 10,000 rooms. The importance of the East (the direction of the rising sun) in orienting and siting imperial buildings
680-509: A total surface of 65,000 m, currently the largest of its kind in the world. The roof is carried by 19 interior and 31 exterior masts and by six funnel shaped framework shells consisting of steel and glass. It has a height of 45 m and a free projection of 80 m. These so-called Sun Valleys direct natural LED light below. The design and development of the structure originate from SBA International and Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering Stuttgart / New York City . In terms of structure and shape,
748-465: A vast territory and still remain a living architecture, retaining its principal characteristics in spite of repeated foreign invasions—military, intellectual, and spiritual—is a phenomenon comparable only to the continuity of the civilization of which it is an integral part. In more recent times, China has become the most rapidly modernizing country in the world. In the past few decades, cities like Shanghai have completely changed their skyline, with some of
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#1732840586282816-532: Is a form of solar worship found in many ancient cultures, reflecting the affiliation of Ruler with the Sun. The tombs and mausoleums of imperial family members, such as the 8th-century Tang dynasty tombs at the Qianling Mausoleum , can be counted as part of the imperial tradition. These above-ground earthen mounds and pyramids had subterranean shaft-and-vault structures that were lined with brick walls since at least
884-401: Is a key message here. With an area of 3400 sq.m., excursion trains on a 340m-long track provide visitors with a 6-minute ride exploring urban wisdom and the dialogue between the past and present. The exhibits include "Gates of History", "Stone Bridges", "Dougong Matrix", "Tunnel of Planning" "Heavenly Garden and Garden City". An exploration of a lower-carbon future in China. It shows how China
952-534: Is dated to around 3500 BC, or possibly earlier. Although no evidence suggests village settlements nearby, its size is much larger than one clan or village could support. In other words, though rituals would have been performed there for the elites, the large area implies that audiences for the ritual would have encompassed all the villages of the Hongshan. As a sacred landscape, the center might have attracted supplicants from even further afield. Rammed earth construction
1020-508: Is divided into three parts: "The Footprints", "The Dialogue" and "The Vision". Visitors are taken by lift to the uppermost level for the first exhibition before working their way down the building for the subsequent segments. This first part highlights the wisdom of Chinese urban practices in Chinese history , from the achievements of China's reforms in the late 1970s to the urban experiences of imperial China . This hall features iconic symbols of
1088-495: Is inspired by nature and will develop innovative solutions to meet the challenges of urban growth and environmental protection. The exhibits are represented simply by one of the four main mathematical operations: addition , subtraction , multiplication and division (+, -, ×, ÷) The minus sign represents that reliance on fossil fuel shall be reduced and efficiency in energy consumption shall be improved to reduce waste. The addition sign represents that increase of carbon emission
1156-511: Is the embodiment of an architectural style that has developed over millennia in China and has influenced architecture throughout East Asia . Since its emergence during the early ancient era, the structural principles of its architecture have remained largely unchanged. The main changes involved diverse decorative details. Starting with the Tang dynasty , Chinese architecture has had a major influence on
1224-412: Is threatening global environment and hampering the development of human society. Individual actions of reduced consumption can have a great effect, given the population of the country. The multiplication sign represents that individual actions can add up to a great effect, given the large population in the country. The division sign represents that the ambitious forest carbon sink plan, if divided by
1292-608: The Forbidden City have rather low ceilings when compared to equivalent stately buildings in the West, but their external appearance suggests the all-embracing nature of imperial China. These ideas have found their way into modern Western architecture, for example through the work of Jørn Utzon . Chinese architecture used concepts from Chinese cosmology such as feng shui ( geomancy ) and Taoism to organize construction and layout. These include: The use of certain colors, numbers and
1360-515: The Gautama Buddha ; older pagodas tend to be four-sided, while later pagodas usually have eight sides. Daoist architecture usually follows the commoners' style. The main entrance is, however, usually at the side, out of superstition about demons that might try to enter the premise (see feng shui .) In contrast to the Buddhists, in a Daoist temple the main deity is located in the main hall at
1428-505: The Hakka in Fujian and Jiangxi , the design of Tulou shows the ancient philosophy of harmony between people and environment. People used local materials, often building the walls with rammed earth. No window reached the outside on the lower two floors (for defense), but the inside included a common courtyard and let people gather. Certain architectural features were reserved for buildings built for
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#17328405862821496-515: The Neolithic age . The basic well-field diagram is overlaid with the luoshu , a magic square divided into 9 sub-squares, and linked with Chinese numerology. In Southern Song dynasty (1131AD), the design of Hongcun city in Anhui was based around "harmony between man and nature", facing south and surrounded by mountains and water. According to fengshui, it is a carefully planned ancient village and shows
1564-621: The Oriental Crown ( 东方之冠 ; 東方之冠 ; Dōngfāng zhī Guān ), was the largest national pavilion at the Shanghai Expo and the largest display in the history of the World Expo . It was also the most expensive pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, having cost an estimated US$ 220 million. The pavilion showcased China's civilization and modern achievements by combining traditional and contemporary elements in its architecture, landscaping and exhibits. After
1632-680: The Warring States period (481–221 BC). Generally speaking, Buddhist architecture follows the imperial style. A large Buddhist monastery normally has a front hall, housing the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings , followed by a great hall, housing statues of the Buddhas . Accommodations are located at the two sides. Some of the greatest examples of this come from the 18th-century Puning Temple and Putuo Zongcheng Temple . Buddhist monasteries sometimes also have pagodas , which may house relics of
1700-545: The capital of China after the Mongol invasion of the 13th century, completing the easterly migration of the Chinese capital begun in the Jin dynasty . The Ming uprising in 1368 reasserted Chinese authority and fixed Beijing as the seat of imperial power for the next five centuries. The emperor and the empress lived in palaces on the central axis of the Forbidden City , the crown prince at
1768-425: The emperor of China . One example is the use of yellow (the imperial color) roof tiles. Yellow tiles still adorn most of the buildings within the Forbidden City . Only the emperor could use hip roofs , with all four sides sloping. The two types of hip roof were single-eave and double-eave. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the archetypal example of double eaves. The Temple of Heaven uses blue roof tiles to symbolize
1836-507: The proletarian spirit of on-site construction using rammed earth. The Communist Party promoted the use of rammed earth construction as a low-cost method which was indigenous to China and required little technical skill. Reinforced concrete, brick-infill, and prefabricated materials were used increasingly following the Wall Reform Movement of 1973–1976 and were promoted in publications such as Architectural Journal. In 2014,
1904-486: The 4th and 7th centuries were representations of the heavens. This originates from Roman provincial art and ancient Egypt. As most of these representations are circular, other forms are present: dodecagon, octagonal, and square. Many caves in the 4th-7th centuries were probably carved throughout the Han and Tang period. Chinese urban planning is based on fengshui geomancy and the well-field system of land division, both used since
1972-849: The China pavilion and on top of the Chinese Joint Provincial pavilion is known as "New Jiuzhou Qing Yan" The 27,000-square metre traditional garden contains modern landscaping techniques and technology including rainwater harvesting techniques and is decorated with distinctly Chinese-style landscaping inspired by the Jiuzhou Qing Yan in the Yuanmingyuan . It was designed to emulate natural Chinese landscapes with Chinese wisdom and oriental charm in mind. The garden provides space for public recreation and crowd evacuation. It uses nine landscaping features to symbolize nine characteristic topographies of China, namely, human habitat (here represented by
2040-468: The Chinese have always enjoyed an indigenous system of construction that has retained its principal characteristics from prehistoric times to the present day. Over the vast area from Chinese Turkistan to Japan, from Manchuria to the northern half of French Indochina, the same system of construction is prevalent; and this was the area of Chinese cultural influence. That this system of construction could perpetuate itself for more than four thousand years over such
2108-466: The Chinese roof bracket known as the dougong as well as the Chinese ding vessel . The dougong is a traditional wooden bracket used to support large overhanging eaves which dates back nearly 2,000 years. It symbolizes the unique charm of Chinese architecture and the unity and strength. The ding was a vessel used by Chinese emperors to make offers to the gods. It represents the union between heaven and earth. The China pavilion's four giant columns resemble
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2176-578: The Human-Nature Intergraded Ecological Planning concept. Since wars were frequent in northern China, many people moved to southern China. The building method of a courtyard house was adapted to southern China. The village of Tungyuan in Fujian Province is a good example of a planned settlement that shows the feng shui elements – psychological self-defense and building structure – in the form of material self-defense. Wood
2244-459: The about 1 km long and about 100m wide axis, which stretches across the entire site to the Huangpu River , the visitors are guided to the various national and theme-based pavilions. The Expo Axis and its boulevard is one of five buildings which remain after the end of the world expo to form the centre of a new urban district of Shanghai . The Expo Axis is covered by a membrane roof with
2312-520: The architectural styles of neighbouring East Asian countries such as Japan , Korea , Vietnam , and Mongolia in addition to minor influences on the architecture of Southeast and South Asia including the countries of Malaysia , Singapore , Indonesia , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Laos , Cambodia , and the Philippines . Chinese architecture is characterized by bilateral symmetry, use of enclosed open spaces, feng shui (e.g. directional hierarchies ),
2380-445: The building was a shrine for deities and ancestors, and was also used during festivities. On its two sides were bedrooms for elders; the two wings (known as "guardian dragons") were for junior members, as well as the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen, although sometimes the living room was close to the center. Sometimes the extended families became so large that one or two extra pairs of "wings" had to be built. This produced
2448-399: The cardinal directions reflected the belief in a type of immanence , where the nature of a thing could be wholly contained in its own form. Beijing and Chang'an are examples of traditional Chinese town planning that represent these cosmological concepts. The types of Chinese architecture may relate to the use of the structures, such as whether they were built for royals, commoners, or
2516-579: The centuries. From the Tang dynasty (618–907) onwards, brick and stone architecture gradually became more common. The earliest examples of this transition can be seen in building projects such as the Zhaozhou Bridge completed in 605 or the Xumi Pagoda built in 636. Some stone and brick architecture was used in subterranean tomb architecture of earlier dynasties. In the early 20th century no known fully wood-constructed Tang dynasty buildings still existed;
2584-686: The city of Datong started to rebuild the Datong ancient city wall and buildings in traditional architecture, although received skepticism and opposition by citizens by then, many praised the mayor for bringing back traditional Chinese aesthetics later on. Vernacular Chinese architecture shows variations related to local terrain and climate. An important feature in Chinese architecture is its emphasis on articulation and bilateral symmetry , which there signifies balance. These are found everywhere in Chinese architecture, from palace complexes to humble farmhouses. Secondary elements are positioned on either side of
2652-425: The concept "unity with difference". The overhanging columns of the main China pavilion and exterior of the Chinese joint provincial pavilion are decorated with Diezhuan characters, calligraphic characters used on official seals. The characters for north, south, east and west are engraved on the red China pavilion, while 24 Chinese solar terms are carved into the silver facade of the provincial pavilion. The structure
2720-485: The eastern side, and the concubines at the back (the imperial concubines were often referred to as "The Back Palace Three Thousand"). During the mid- Qing dynasty , the emperor's residence was moved to the western side of the complex. It is misleading to speak of an axis in the Western sense of a visual perspective ordering facades. The Chinese axis is a line of privilege, usually built upon, regulating access—instead of vistas,
2788-804: The end of the Expo 2010, the building was converted to a museum. On October 1, 2012, it was reopened as the China Art Museum , the largest art museum in Asia. The building is located halfway along the Expo Axis on its eastern side in Zone A of the Expo Park. The pavilion lies directly to the east of the Theme pavilions and to the north of the Hong Kong and Macau pavilions. The chosen design
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2856-623: The end of the Expo, the China pavilion, along with the theme pavilions, the Expo Cultural Center , and the Expo Axis are permanent buildings. The China pavilion was temporarily reopened on 1 December 2010 for half a year, with the same exhibits as those shown during the Expo. On 1 October 2012, the pavilion was reopened as the China Art Museum , the largest art museum in Asia. 31°11′11″N 121°29′25″E / 31.18639°N 121.49028°E / 31.18639; 121.49028 Chinese architecture Chinese architecture
2924-459: The family, while buildings near the front are typically for servants and hired help. Front-facing buildings in the back of properties are used for celebratory rites and for the placement of ancestral halls and plaques. In multi-courtyard complexes, central courtyards and their buildings are considered more important than peripheral ones, the latter typically for storage, servants' rooms, or kitchens. Classical Chinese buildings, especially those of
2992-477: The front, with lesser deities in the back hall and at the sides. This is because Chinese people believe that even after the body has died, the soul is still alive. From the Han grave design, it shows the forces of cosmic yin/yang, the two forces from the heaven and earth that create eternity. The tallest pre-modern building in China was built for both religious and martial purposes. The Liaodi Pagoda of 1055 AD stands at
3060-559: The gap between town and country, (2) the gap between workers and peasants, and (3) the gap between manual and mental labor. Drawing on the Daqing experience, China encouraged rammed earth construction in the mid-1960s. Starting in 1964, Mao Zedong advocated for a "mass design revolution movement". In the context of the Sino-Soviet split , Mao urged that planners should avoid the use of Soviet-style prefabricated materials and instead embrace
3128-724: The home itself, which shows the human sphere co-existing with, but separate from nature. The intent is that people feel surrounded by, and in harmony with, nature. The two essential garden elements are stones and water. The stones signify the pursuit of immortality, while water represents emptiness and existence. The mountain belongs to yang (static beauty), and the water belongs to yin (dynamic wonder). They depend on each other and complete each other. In much Chinese architecture, buildings or building complexes surround open spaces. These enclosed spaces come in two forms: These enclosures aid in temperature regulation and in ventilation. Northern courtyards are typically open and face south to allow
3196-437: The legs of a ding vessel while the inverted pyramid body resembles the bowl of a vessel. The rooftop of the building is in the shape of a grid-like pattern reminiscent of Jiugongge when view from the air. Jiugongge was the basis of urban planning in ancient China. The exterior is painted in seven subtle shades of Chinese red , symbolizing Chinese culture and good fortune . The different shades combine effectively to illustrate
3264-483: The main building itself), farmlands, lakes, mountains, seas, forests, alpine meadows, valleys and deserts. The theme of the pavilion during the Expo was "Chinese Wisdom in Urban Development". To enter the pavilion visitors must ascend the giant staircase on the north-facing side. The sheltered courtyard space within the four main columns provides a large open space for waiting crowds. The pavilion display highlights
3332-496: The main structures as wings to maintain overall symmetry. Buildings are typically planned to contain an even number of columns to produce an odd number of bays (間). Placing the main door in the center bay maintains symmetry. In contrast to buildings, Chinese gardens tend to be asymmetrical. Gardens are designed to provide enduring flow. The design of the classic Chinese garden is based on the ideology of "Nature and Man in One," as opposed to
3400-551: The maximum exposure of the building windows and walls to the sun while keeping out the cold north winds. Southern sky wells are relatively small and collect rainwater from the roof tops. They perform the same duties as the Roman impluvium while restricting the amount of sunlight that enters the building. Sky wells also vent hot air skyward, which draws cool air from the lower areas and the outside. The projected hierarchy and importance and building uses in Chinese architecture are based on
3468-535: The more important cultures were Hongshan culture (4700–2900 BC) to the north of Bohai Bay in Inner Mongolia and Hebei Province and contemporaneous Yangshao culture (5000–3000 BC) in Henan Province . Between the two, and developing later, was Longshan culture (3000–2000 BC) in the central and lower Yellow River valley. These combined areas gave rise to thousands of small/proto-states by 3000 BC. Some shared
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#17328405862823536-699: The oldest so far discovered was the 1931 find of Guanyin Pavilion at Dule Monastery , dated 984 during the Song dynasty. Later architectural historians Liang Sicheng , Lin Huiyin, Mo Zongjiang, discovered that the Great East Hall of Foguang Temple on Mount Wutai in Shanxi dated to 857. The ground floor of this monastic hall measures 34 by 17.66 m (111.5 by 57.9 ft). The main hall of nearby Nanchan Temple on Mount Wutai
3604-614: The plains along China's numerous rivers that emptied into Bohai and Hongzhow bays. The most prominent of these rivers, the Yellow and the Yangtze , hosted many villages. The climate was warmer and more humid than today, allowing millet to be grown in the north and rice in the south. However, Chinese civilization has no single "origin". Instead, it featured a gradual multinuclear development between 4000 and 2000 BC – from village communities to what anthropologists call cultures to states. Two of
3672-409: The religious. Due to primarily wooden construction and poor maintenance, far fewer examples of commoner's homes survive compared to those of nobles. Korman claimed the average commoner's home did not change much, even centuries after the establishment of the universal style: early-20th-century homes were similar to late and mid-imperial homes. These homes tended to follow a set pattern: the center of
3740-833: The roof structure lives up to Stuttgart’s tradition of the internationally respected lightweight constructions, including the tent construction of the German Pavilion and the Buckminster Fuller -designed geodesic dome American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal . 31°11′09″N 121°29′17″E / 31.1857334°N 121.4879859°E / 31.1857334; 121.4879859 China Pavilion The China pavilion at Expo 2010 ( simplified Chinese : 中国国家馆 ; traditional Chinese : 中國國家館 ; pinyin : Zhōngguó guójiā guǎn ) in Pudong , Shanghai , colloquially known as
3808-485: The sky. The roofs are almost invariably supported by brackets (" dougong "), a feature shared only with the largest of religious buildings. The building's wooden columns well as the wall surfaces, tend to be red. Black is often used in pagodas. It was believed that the gods were inspired by the black color to visit earth. The 5-clawed dragon, adopted by the Hongwu emperor (first emperor of Ming dynasty ) for his personal use,
3876-475: The strict placement of buildings in a property/complex. Buildings with doors facing the front of the property are considered more important than those facing the sides. Buildings facing away from the front are the least important. South-facing buildings in the rear and more private areas with higher exposure to sunlight are held in higher esteem and reserved for elders or ancestral plaques. Buildings facing east and west are generally for junior members or branches of
3944-412: The structures were constructed for emperors, commoners, or for religious purposes. Other variations in Chinese architecture are shown in vernacular styles associated with different geographic regions and different ethnic heritages. The architecture of China is as old as Chinese civilization. From every source of information—literary, graphic, exemplary—there is strong evidence testifying to the fact that
4012-544: The third through sixth centuries traced back to Han construction . Some tombs were considered two-chamber spaces, where the focal point was the central pagoda pillar. This focal point served as what Buddhist call a pagoda, which is a symbol of the Buddha and his death. The layout of such tombs has the corpse in the back chamber, as the pillar location indicated the Buddha's death. There would sometimes be interior tomb decoration to portray immortal or divine meaning. Dome ceilings in
4080-591: The wealthy, are built with an emphasis on breadth and less on height, featuring an enclosed heavy platform and a large roof that floats over this base, with the vertical walls deemphasized. Buildings that were too high and large were considered unsightly, and therefore generally avoided. Chinese architecture stresses the visual impact of the width of the buildings, using sheer scale to inspire awe. This preference contrasts with Western architecture, which tends to emphasize height and depth. This often meant that pagodas towered above other buildings. The halls and palaces in
4148-422: The worlds tallest skyscrapers dotting the horizon. China also has one of the most extensive high speed rail networks , connecting and allowing its large population to travel more efficiently. Throughout the 20th century, Chinese architects have attempted to bring traditional Chinese designs into modern architecture . Moreover, the pressure for urban development throughout China requires high speed construction and
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#17328405862824216-483: Was both practically and ideologically important during the rapid construction of the Daqing oil field and the related development of Daqing . The "Daqing Spirit" represented deep personal commitment in pursuing national goals, self-sufficient and frugal living, and urban-rural integrated land use. Daqing's urban-rural landscape was said to embody the ideal communist society described by Karl Marx because it eliminated (1)
4284-446: Was built with a strong emphasis on sustainable and energy-saving practices with the exterior offering thermal insulation and natural ventilation . The inverted pyramid design and the lower courtyard offers a large overhang for self-shading. There is a 0.36 mega-watt solar energy system on the rooftop while the thermal panels and insulating glasses on the exterior are energy-saving initiatives. A high-tech rooftop garden surrounding
4352-408: Was commemorated by almost 1,000 people including the pavilion's designers and construction workers. Construction milestones : The 63-metre high pavilion, the tallest structure at the Expo, is dubbed "The Oriental Crown" because of its resemblance to an ancient Chinese crown. It was meticulously designed with profound meaning and symbolism. The architectonic feature of the building was inspired by
4420-671: Was later dated to 782. Six Tang era wooden buildings had been found by the 21st century. The oldest intact fully wooden pagoda is the Pagoda of Fogong Temple of the Liao dynasty , located in Ying County of Shanxi . While the East Hall of Foguang Temple features seven types of bracket arms in its construction, the 11th-century Pagoda of Fogong Temple features fifty-four. The earliest walls and platforms used rammed earth construction. Ancient sections of
4488-590: Was selected from a range of 344 design proposals put forward by architects from all over the world. The chief architect of the pavilion was 72-year-old He Jingtang , the director of the Architectural Academy of the South China University of Technology . The construction of the China pavilion began on 18 December 2007 and was completed in November 2009. On 8 February 2010, the completion of construction
4556-441: Was typically utilised as a primary building material. Also, Chinese culture holds that life connects with nature and that humans should interact with animated things. By contrast stone was associated with the homes of the dead. However, unlike other building materials, wooden structures are less durable. The Songyue Pagoda (built in 523) is China's oldest extant pagoda ; its use of brick instead of wood allowed it to endure across
4624-432: Was used to decoration the beams, pillars, and on the doors on imperial architecture. Curiously, the dragon was never used on roofs of imperial buildings. Only buildings used by the imperial family were allowed to have nine jian (間, space between two columns); only gates used by the emperor could have five arches, with the centre one, reserved for the emperor. The ancient Chinese favored the color red . Beijing became
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