Editorial
There is a considerable exchange of ideas, cultures, and architectural designs among Asian countries touched by globalization; some of these exchanges go way back to an earlier time. However, even through the alterations brought on by globalization, different geographical and cultural backgrounds have allowed some Asian countries and regions to retain their own uniqueness to form a unique regional identity.
Against this backdrop, this issue points out some notes of interest.
1) The exchange and spread of Japanese architectural culture in China: Zhu Xiaoming and Tian Guohua’s article highlights how the badminton gymnasium designed by renowned Japanese modernist architect Kikuji Ishimoto in 1942, which forms part of a former Japanese school on Tongji University’s Siping Road campus in Shanghai, crosses cultural and temporal boundaries and provides substantial evidence on the practice of early Japanese modernist architects in China.
2) Some of the common problems faced by Asian cities, such as congestion, poor environmental conditions, shortage of green areas, and poor use of public spaces are given local solutions: Souporni Paul and Suchandra Bardhan’s research investigates the spatial distribution of urban greening strategies and discusses specific greening strategies in the Indian city of Kolkata at its smallest administrative unit, providing a local sample for this common issue. Focused on matters in the neighboring front in Shanghai, the article by Gu Zhuoxing and team utilizes a multi-agent behavioral simulation method to measure the use of public space on the North Bund waterfront and reveals that the public space of the North Bund has an uneven distribution of activities, activity time, and space utilization, and suggests improvements in the overall space utilization.
3) Investigation and respect for locality: Li Minqian and Li Xiaofeng’s research focusing on traditional Yi settlements in Yunnan, China, proposes specific strategies for the construction process, including spatial scene design strategies at the village, group, and household levels, as well as suggests the “mother tongue construction” strategy.
The project section in this issue provides varied alternative responses to address the topic of maintaining locality amid globalization. Asian architects interpret locality from various perspectives, not only regionally, but also universally. MoMA, Lushan Times, and Suzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Hall each reply to their complex urban surroundings with an outstanding and independent outlook. Office Complex for Gopal Printpack Solutions, Maly Koncert, and Zhongguancun Digital Economy Innovation Industry Base offer an investigation on ontological design from the perspective of internality. Wanping Theater, Rane Vidyalaya, and Athenia High School explicate innovative materials from indigenous culture. This issue highlights both the significance of Asian discourse in globalization, as well as its inherent responsibility for locality.
loading......