-- Remembering Wu Jiguang, an architect and professor in China.
The architecture discipline of Hunan University was founded by famous scholars Liu Dunzhen and Liu Shiying, and it was held and stopped in history until 1962, when the architecture discipline was abolished due to the adjustment of the national discipline university. In 1981, within 20 years of abolition, all the professional textbooks, library materials, and experimental equipment of the discipline were disbanded or dismantled. However, with the advent of the tide of reform and opening up, the country is in urgent need of architectural talents, and Mr. Wu Jiguang gave up the desire to return to his hometown Shenzhen for development, obeyed the requirements of the organization, and took on the important task of rebuilding the architecture discipline of the school. He cooperated with the eight subject teachers who still stayed in the school to overcome the dilemma of lack of personnel and money, and asked the market for funds and talents from the society. At the same time, the elite is selected from the students of other majors in the school, and the training is accelerated and the professional talents are quickly replenished. During this period, in addition to completing the teaching tasks in the school, Wu Jiguang also went to Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Jiangxi, Wuhan and other places to organize and complete the construction planning, architectural design and research work. Not only did it obtain the necessary funds for running the school, but it also appropriately improved the livelihood of the faculty and staff. As a result, we have retained talents, recruited talents, expanded teaching buildings, staff dormitories and increased various teaching facilities, and effectively improved the quality of teaching.
Under the hard work and leadership of Professor Wu Jiguang, the Department of Architecture of Hunan University successfully passed the education quality assessment of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Construction for the first time in 1986.
In the tide of reform and opening up, he not only saw the side of rapid economic development, but also noticed the influence of the capitalist commercial culture that followed, and was eager to develop new urban formats, a number of excellent traditional buildings were dismantled, and some cities were built into commercial pedestrian streets in imitation of some foreign cities. In order to adapt China's architectural design concept to the needs of economic and cultural development at the same time, in the early 90s, he and Professor Yang Shenchu and other experts initiated the organization of a national "academic seminar on architecture and culture". In 1996, he initiated and presided over three academic seminars at Hunan University, including the 1996 International Symposium on Architecture and Culture. At the same time, Professor Wu Jiguang also actively participated in the preparation of seminars in Fujian, Henan (secondary), Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Shaanxi and Xinjiang, and actively promoted the development of this academic field.
At the same time, Professor Wu Jiguang has published more than 20 articles in this research field, such as "Reflections on the Conflict of Contemporary Chinese Architectural Culture" and "Characteristics of the Concept and Expression of China's Future Architectural Culture", which can be summarized as follows:
The first is regional characteristics: the architectural design should fully consider the local cultural background and characteristics, and integrate regional elements as much as possible to reflect the respect and inheritance of local culture;
The second is historical inheritance: architectural design should be based on the understanding and research of history and culture, through the use of traditional architectural symbols, materials and structures, etc., to integrate traditional history and culture into it, so that buildings become the carrier and inheritor of history and culture;
The second is humanistic care: architectural design should pay attention to people's needs and emotions, and integrate humanistic care into it. For example, through the scientific design of the building, it provides residents with a comfortable, safe and warm living environment and other functional requirements;
Finally, modern technology: architectural design should combine modern technology and materials, through the use of new structures and materials, so that the building not only has cultural connotation and characteristics and pays attention to the ecological environment, but also combines with modern technology and the spirit of innovation.
In short, in Professor Wu Jiguang's view, the cultural expression in architectural design needs to comprehensively consider and integrate these basic elements of the building, so as to create an excellent building that not only has cultural connotation and characteristics, but also can reflect the spirit of modern technology and innovation.
Professor Wu Jiguang believes that the development trend of architectural design in the future may be towards sustainability and green buildings, humanistic care and social responsibility, intelligent and digital technology, personalization and diversification, etc. Therefore, in addition to theoretical research, Wu Jiguang also actively engaged in architectural creation and practice, and completed nearly 100 architectural schemes and engineering practices. Among them, the design achievements of Hunan University Library, Library of Academy of Social Sciences, and Xiangxi Wangcun Town Planning designed by me have won the first prize, second prize and third prize at the national, provincial and ministerial levels. Among them, in the design of the library of Hunan University, aiming at the entrance of the adjacent scenic spot of the building base, there are many traditional ancient buildings around, and the environment is complex, and the base is small. The main body is arranged in the northeast corner, and the innovative layout of the nine-story tower space combining reading and book collection is adopted, which avoids the interference of people and vehicles at the south entrance. In the south of the building, a two-storey public service and office building is set up, and the patio-like layout of traditional houses and the traditional technical techniques of borrowing from the front fire pool of ancient Chinese libraries are used to isolate reading from the public space, and an organic ecological space with greenery, flowing water and vitality is formed inside. The exterior of the building is simple, and the two-story podium of the nine-storey tower is combined with a simplified stilted outer overhang vertical plate and the red brick of the first floor of the exterior wall, so that the building achieves the harmony of the surrounding original buildings. And form a pleasant ecosystem with good greening and gardens around it. Since its completion, the library has been widely acclaimed, and has won the National Excellent Cultural and Educational Architecture Award and the National Excellent Architecture Award for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In his eighties, he often goes to rural areas and ethnic minority areas to provide voluntary consultation and guidance for the planning and construction of rural revitalization.
Professor Wu Jiguang is an outstanding architectural educator, architect and social activist, whose academic attainments, personality charm and sense of social responsibility have set an example for us, inspiring us to continue to move forward and contribute to the development and prosperity of China's architectural industry.
Postscript: In China's construction industry, Professor Wu Jiguang has created a beautiful science and education career in a down-to-earth manner by virtue of his professional knowledge and skills and rich life experience. His in-depth research and excavation of China's architectural culture reflects his infinite love and sincerity for the cause of architecture. His outstanding contributions to scientific research and his devotion to education demonstrate his selfless heart to serve the country.
Profile: Wu Jiguang, male, born in 1935 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, is a professor and graduate tutor of the School of Architecture and Planning of Hunan University, and a graduate tutor of Central South University, and a national first-class registered architect. He used to be a member of the Steering Committee of Architecture of the Ministry of Urban-Rural Development, the deputy director of the Architecture and Culture Academic Committee of the Architectural History Branch of the Architectural Society of China, and the deputy director of the Architecture and Culture Academic Committee of the Architectural History Branch of China. He is the vice president of the Hunan Civil Engineering and Architecture Society, the president of the Hunan Architects Association, and the consultant chief architect of the Design and Research Institute of Hunan University. At the same time, he served as the deputy director of the editorial board of the "Architectural Culture Research Library" and the deputy director of the editorial committee of the "Chinese Architectural Culture Research Library", and was awarded the National Excellent Teacher in 1996. (Written by Zhang Hongyan).