Nanjing Library: A Study of Intangible Contents of Architecture

Abstract

The thesis is to discuss how to design for our time(2005) while respecting traditional Chinese culture and philosophy. It proposes a solution to the conflict between traditional Chinese architecture and modernization patterned after the West. It is an attempt to respond to the question: how can these two different cultural and architectural issues be successfully balanced to support architectural environment in modern China? Instead of using superficial cultural symbols to represent traditional culture, the thesis explores the architectural implications of the inherent principles in Chinese philosophy, through the design of a library for the city of Nanjing.