I need to do some background research on China for a project and I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with the topic. I was wondering if people could recommend some good books to get me started.
The topic I'm interested in is the new modernization and globalization in China, with an emphasis on architectural styles and urban planning. I haven't really decided on a specific thesis yet, but I'm thinking I will want to deal with issues such as the schisms between modern vs. vernacular, westernization vs. tradition, construction vs. destruction, etc. The political, economical, cultural and environmental issues involved are also of interest to me.
While all suggestions are welcome, please keep in mind that I prefer books that could be considered as valid sources to be sited in an written academic report.
see anything regarding rapid urbanization. also, check out new steven hall (beijing) projects (linked hybrid, etc). great examples of fast, intense architecture/engineering.
How much do you know about China already? Modern Chinese history, politics, culture?
Not sure if this is useful to you, but in college I found Jonathan Spence's "In Search of Modern China" to be a very comprehensive book on modern chinese history...
I think its worth a read from cover to cover, it's pretty thick but it reads like a novel almost, full of historic and literary anecdotes... It's a page turner that you can get hooked on, and you can get through it in a few days...
ZKM thing from 2006 - just saw a copy of the book at the bookstore today and thought of your post!
Wasn't convinced when I quickly flipped through, but might be your thing.
OMA has done some work this topic WRT the business district planning in Beijing.
How's your Chinese? I would check some of the local practices. There's a mag I've seen at my school, which I think is published in China - it's on architecture. Quite slick...But a lot of the articles were in Chinese AFAIK - ie. not all text is translated. Why does it have to be a "credible source"? Fuck that. Do some of your own thinking and make your mind up whether you believe in the material or not. Sorry, that sounds arrogant...
Also check out stuff written by Xuefei Ren (in academic and non academic journals). Her writing touches upon a wide array of relevant topics and is up to date.
Not "books" per se, but there's quite a few academic papers available on the World Bank Urban Reearch symposium websites that might be of relevance (and are in English, which is helpful)
Mar 19, 08 5:56 pm ·
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Books on China's Modern Developments
I need to do some background research on China for a project and I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with the topic. I was wondering if people could recommend some good books to get me started.
The topic I'm interested in is the new modernization and globalization in China, with an emphasis on architectural styles and urban planning. I haven't really decided on a specific thesis yet, but I'm thinking I will want to deal with issues such as the schisms between modern vs. vernacular, westernization vs. tradition, construction vs. destruction, etc. The political, economical, cultural and environmental issues involved are also of interest to me.
While all suggestions are welcome, please keep in mind that I prefer books that could be considered as valid sources to be sited in an written academic report.
Thanks!
see anything regarding rapid urbanization. also, check out new steven hall (beijing) projects (linked hybrid, etc). great examples of fast, intense architecture/engineering.
How much do you know about China already? Modern Chinese history, politics, culture?
Not sure if this is useful to you, but in college I found Jonathan Spence's "In Search of Modern China" to be a very comprehensive book on modern chinese history...
I think its worth a read from cover to cover, it's pretty thick but it reads like a novel almost, full of historic and literary anecdotes... It's a page turner that you can get hooked on, and you can get through it in a few days...
"Criticality in between China and the West" is an article by Jianfei Zhu in the Journal of Architecture, Vol !0, Number 5
"Great Leap Forward" - Koolhaas + GSD for pictures and diagrams
ZKM thing from 2006 - just saw a copy of the book at the bookstore today and thought of your post!
Wasn't convinced when I quickly flipped through, but might be your thing.
sorry - this is perhaps better:
http://hosting.zkm.de/totalstadt/stories/storyReader$22
OMA has done some work this topic WRT the business district planning in Beijing.
How's your Chinese? I would check some of the local practices. There's a mag I've seen at my school, which I think is published in China - it's on architecture. Quite slick...But a lot of the articles were in Chinese AFAIK - ie. not all text is translated. Why does it have to be a "credible source"? Fuck that. Do some of your own thinking and make your mind up whether you believe in the material or not. Sorry, that sounds arrogant...
I think this is the mag...OK, I'll stop now. Good luck.
http://magazines.documenta.de/frontend/profile.php?IdMagazine=140
"China's Urban Transition" by John Friedmann is a good start.
Also check out stuff written by Xuefei Ren (in academic and non academic journals). Her writing touches upon a wide array of relevant topics and is up to date.
Not "books" per se, but there's quite a few academic papers available on the World Bank Urban Reearch symposium websites that might be of relevance (and are in English, which is helpful)
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