The ethos in the form making of grand projects in contemporary Beijing City

Abstract

Capital cities embody national identity and ethos, buildings in the capital cities have the power to awe and to inspire. While possibly no capital city in the world is being renewed so intensely as Beijing, which presents both enormous potential and threat. Intrinsic to this research is a concept that the design culture of a city is formed largely by the national character, aesthetic value and culture distinctive to that city; these are the soil of design culture which merit careful observation and description. The current architecture design in Beijing is by all means exploring the modern language appropriated in Chinese idioms, especially in significant public projects which are often sponsored by the government. In these projects, the cultural and social concerns intensively emerge together. Amidst these concerns, perceptions arise from the fields of professionals, clients and the mass, the three main representatives of design culture. Each of them is valid only to an extent which presents one dimension of the ethos. By studying three cases, National Theatre, CCTV Headquarter Office and National Stadium, we will identify the current cultural character and social value that may provide the soil of design culture in Beijing. Ultimately we would speculate on the potential development of architecture design in Beijing in the new century.