Homepage >  News >  Media Coverage >  Text

A Wonderful Lecture from Prof.Yu on 2003 IFLA

2003-06-02 Author:Liu Jun Source:Turenscape
[center]Under the Name of "City Beautiful": China on the Edge of Urbanization and Globalization [IMG]http://www.turenscape.com/page/baodao/image/ifla2003/yuifla.gif[/IMG][/center] On May 25-29, 2003 International Federation Landscape Architecture (IFLA) was held in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Kongjian Yu, Dean of Graduate School of Landscape Architecture, Peking University and President of Turenscape, was invited to give a lecture on the international Landscape Architecture Conference. During the one hour and a half time, Prof. Yu gave a presentation of “Under the Name of "City Beautiful:" China on the Edge of Urbanization and Globalization”. His lecture won a success and attracted all the audiences from 32 countries and areas of the world. Prof.Yu told us the main contents following: China is at the edge, a transitional edge, and is transforming in many ways: ·Socially, from socialism and rural agricultural society to an industrialized and urbanized state. ·Economically, from a centrally planned economy to a market system. ·Politically from a communism based on the proletariat to a democratic republic. ·Culturally from traditional Chinese to a hybrid of westernized culture. Most important of all, social values are changing. During this transitional period, millions of peasants are rushing to the cities leaving their agricultural land behind or are forced to leave because of urban development. Rapid urbanization, the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, globalization, and recent entry to the World Trade Organization are dramatically influencing the Chinese landscape at the national level. Global influences include the Internet, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and western design influences like the Washington D.C. Mall. This paper discusses the landscape edge within the context of social, economical and political changes. It is critical to note that the history of urban development in Europe and in the North America has shared influences with China. The Chinese urban landscape is currently at the edge of the evolved city beautiful movement, and is at the edge of losing its ecological integrity, social and cultural identity. So we must find the respect for nature and the environment, the respect for our own cultural identity, and the respect for the daily lives of the ordinary people. We have the responsibility to attempt to enlighten and raise the consciousness of the municipal Chinese leaders in individual cities, and of Chinese design professionals and more importantly international foreign design professionals. These foreign professionals are now being sought after by Chinese developers and city leaders to create places that are in the spirit of the city beautiful movement for the Grand Manner landscapes.
All comments only on behalf of Internet users
Refresh