- This volume selects 15 architectural designs from Chinese architect
Pu Miao's practice since the 1990s - Through detailed analyses of design
concepts, large amount of building photos, and drawings (including wall
sections for some projects), this book acts as a virtual tour of the
places, and offers meticulous design documentation Chinese architect Pu
Miao has long explored the development of modern Chinese architecture
from a localized perspective. As he has learned from his practice, the
integration of architecture and landscape promises to be one of the main
directions for localization. This volume selects 15 architectural
designs from Miao's practice since the 1990s; 12 of them have been
constructed and written about in international and Chinese professional
journals and books. The building types include restaurant, retail,
exhibition, worship, residence, education, and public facilities. The
projects illustrate four modes of integrating buildings and landscape:
using outdoor spaces as alternatives for indoor activities; architecture
and landscape each playing a unique role in a functional pair;
architecture partially taking the form of landscape; and gardens as
urban public spaces in a building. Through detailed analyses of design
concepts, a large number of building photos and drawings (including wall
sections for some projects), this book acts not only as a virtual tour
of these places, but also provides meticulous design documentation.
Today, it is very rare for an architect to practice by him/herself. Pu
Miao has proved that such a traditional craftsman's mode of practice is
still possible; more than that, he inspires us to see that the modes of
architectural practice need not to be as uniform as many believe. There
are actually many possibilities, as long as you dare to imagine and to
try. Perhaps Pu Miao's initial objective was to control the building
detailing as much as possible, which he has accomplished, but meanwhile
he has also become a special banner of independent practice in China.
Text in English and Chinese.
