Coordinator: Zhu Hongyu Written by Wang Hua and Yang Shujuan.
Photo courtesy of Beijing International Photography Week.
The 2nd Architectural Art Photography Exhibition, a World Urban Cultural Landmark.
City landmarks are like the exclusive memory of each city, or in the form of buildings or natural landscapes vividly preserved in the urban space and time, open a book of urban memory, with the help of large or small, new or old landmarks, with the axis of time, with space as the medium, I believe that we can explore the afterglow of history, but also look forward to the future that will emerge.
Land mark, originally proposed by Kevin Lynch, founder of the Massachusetts Institute of Architecture in the United States, literally means a regional mark. Derived from the meaning of the word "sign" in the "Design Dictionary", the interpretation of "landmark" can also be a visual marker and symbol with symbolic meaning and connotation within a certain area.
Nowadays, almost every city has its own landmark building, which is the concentrated embodiment of a city's "spirit". For example, the well-known Forbidden City and China Zun in Beijing, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the World Financial Center in Shanghai, the London Bridge in the United Kingdom, and the Colosseum in Rome have either passed the millennium and weathered for a long time, or have just entered the public eye and bloomed with a new look. But there is no doubt that they are not only a building, but also a reflection of a city's image, personality, temperament and style, as well as a symbol of a city's culture and spirit.
Abu Dhabi Mosque, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by Lo Yilin.
Different times, different reminiscences
Taiwanese writer Lung Ying-tai once said: "The history and memory of a city, and the rich and complex details of life it presents are its true charm." "It is true that urban landmarks will change in the course of the times, and there is a distinct character of the times that cannot be ignored. The large and small buildings in the city bear the imprint of their own eras, warming the deep memories of people of different ages.
As far as Beijing is concerned, its historical landmark is the Forbidden City, which has endured more than 600 years of wind and rain. Professor Hou Renzhi, a well-known historical geographer, regards the Forbidden City as the "first milestone" in his article "Three Milestones in Beijing's Urban Planning and Construction".In 1949, the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China held in Tiananmen Square, Tiananmen Square became a new landmark in Beijing, and also became a Chinese landmark in the hearts of the people of the whole country, and it was also the "second milestone" written by Professor Hou Renzhi.
First Snow in the Forbidden City, Palace Museum, Beijing, China. Photo by Huang Zhuo.
The Great Hall of the People, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Beijing Exhibition Center, the Beijing Telegraph Building, the Beijing Workers' Stadium and other buildings completed after the founding of the People's Republic of China and during the period of reform and opening up all outline important trajectories on the timeline and retain the collective memory of an era. Since the reform and opening up, more landmark buildings with distinctive modern characteristics have emerged in all corners of the capital, such as the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, which are famous all over the world, and the well-known new buildings such as the National Center for the Performing Arts, ** TV Station, Galaxy SOHO, and Daxing Airport are also very memorable, witnessing the wonderful process of China's reform and opening up and rapid development.
History and culture are the indiscriminate use of modern civilization, and the replacement of new and old landmarks is also the continuation of the inheritance and development of the city's historical context. The building constructs the aesthetics, values, culture and atmosphere of the era in which it was born, like a wordless book and a soundless music, carrying a rich and graceful and ineffable emotional code. It seems that we can have a "dialogue" with it across time and space, listen to the remnants of history, and appreciate the endless beauty after the precipitation of the years. As architect I.M. Pei said, "The most beautiful building should be built on time, and time will give all the answers." ”
Harmony of One Circle and One Side", Beijing, China, National Centre for the Performing Arts and Great Hall of the People, China. Photo by Cui Qing.
Geographical differences and differences have their own merits
Architecture is a product of a region, rooted in the specific environment, different geographical locations, climatic conditions form different ecological environments, and different ecological environments affect the formation of the city's human environment, not to mention the huge difference in political environment and historical background, will create each country, city has its own unique architectural style.
For example, the Baroque architectural style of the French court is completely different from the style of ancient Chinese imperial architecture. The Baroque period, from the beginning of the 17th century to the first half of the 18th century, was an era in the history of Western art. At that time, the European powers were expanding, and they were caught in the struggle between the old and new churches, and they advocated a hedonistic style in their lives, and they did everything they could to luxury. The baroque style has both religious characteristics and hedonistic colors, and is good at expressing a variety of strong feelings, and attaches importance to the synthesis of architecture and sculpture and painting in design, which is luxurious and gorgeous, and has a strong artistic atmosphere.
World Heritage Site, Amritsar Golden Temple, Punjab, India. Photo by Zhao Hongnan.
In contrast, Chinese imperial architecture, as a place of ritual and law of the feudal dynasty, has emphasized strict and regular layout since ancient times, and the magnificent atmosphere has been fully displayed as an architectural symbol that symbolizes the highest power. For example, Tiananmen Square, as the main gate of the imperial city of Beijing in the Ming and Qing dynasties, was called "Chengtianmen" in the Ming Dynasty, which means "inheriting the heavens and starting from the sky, and being ordered by the sky", highlighting the imperial power and supremacy.
For example, the architectural style of Russia is very different from that of other countries. Because most of the area is located in the northern temperate zone and the northern boreal zone, most of the Russian architectural styles are rich in boreal life, cold and rugged, full of strength and seem to emphasize rationality and calmness. On the other hand, the architecture of South Asia and India, especially the temple buildings, is mostly bright and bright, and the many decorations are even more shining, showing a strong local style, just like the warm and unrestrained people and the hot climate of the country.
Summer Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia, Peter the Great's Summer Palace. Photo by Sun Wenmin.
Filled with feelings and memories
A city's landmark, from its initial planning and design, to becoming a shared memory of the city for generations, to removing the old and renovating the new, is not simply a physical change. The emergence and change of each city symbol not only directly affects the individual's sense of identity with the city, but also indirectly affects the temperament and culture of a city. Like a "walking living history", it has become the common intersection of people and the city, and has become the context of the city, so as to record, accompany and influence the growth of several generations.
As mentioned earlier, the essence of architecture is to serve people, and the practical function of architecture for people may be higher than that of building itself. Only by truly loving and caring for people can architects make the built environment provide better services for people. Empathy with others is always the original intention.
The Dream of the Covered Bridge", Jinzhu Bridge in Jinchaixi Village, Fuding City, Ningde City, Fujian, China. Photo by Geng Li.
So, while some of the towering buildings are eye-catching, for the general public, the memorable landmarks that touch the heartstrings are often less impressive. It may be a hutong street that can recall the atmosphere of old life, it may be a familiar time-honored shop signboard, or it may be just a childhood frolicking corner and eaves, the past emerges one by one, becoming an indelible "landmark" in the depths of the heart, and it is precisely because of these small but rich memories that the unique personality and charm of a city are constructed, and it has become a life imprint in the hearts of the people, leaving a touch of nostalgia deep in the blood for people.
In short, for a region or a city, sometimes there is no need to go into too much detail, just a glance at its landmark scenery and architectural achievements, and the image and temperament of the city have a rough outline. They may be rooted in the long river of history, waiting for you to read the vicissitudes of thousands of years;Or project a new era style and open the next story chapter with you.
Morning of the West Causeway, West Causeway, Summer Palace, Beijing, China. Photography by Chen Xiangru**: Civilization Communication, Civilization Magazine