2024

Translating Harmony: Garden of Solidified Verses.

Tim Jiang

[email protected]
+64211999965
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Making exercise

Suzhou Gardens are one medium that translates harmony, while poetry is another. By drawing on the shared qualities of Suzhou Gardens and poetry, architecture that is rich in meaning, emotionally resonant and deeply connected to nature can be created. 

This project explores the potential of integrating the design principles of Suzhou Gardens with the thematic elements of Gu Cheng’s poetry to create a unique architectural expression. By drawing on the harmonious spatial composition of Suzhou Gardens and the evocative, nature-inspired themes of Gu Cheng’s poetry, the research aims to develop architectural spaces that foster a deep connection between humans and nature. The proposed design focuses on creating a series of spatial pavilions that were meticulously crafted to reflect Suzhou Gardens and Gu Cheng’s poetry. Through the synthesis of these two elements, the architecture will offer a holistic experience that celebrates the unity of humans and nature, bridging cultural traditions from both Asia and the Pacific. By doing so, the design aspires to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also rich in symbolic meaning and emotional depth.

Employing “making” as a methodology to explore traditional Suzhou Garden design principles serves as an invaluable tool in architecture design. This approach investigates specific spatial and tectonic techniques used in traditional Suzhou gardens. Thus, “making” bridges theoretical study and practical application, ensuring that the subtleties of Suzhou Garden design are thoroughly explored and thoughtfully integrated into modern architectural solutions.

 
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Making exercise 1 (collage)
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Making exercise 2
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Making exercise 3
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Making exercise 3

This final project was informed by the explorations from "making", investigating the architectural embodiment of the traditional principles of Suzhou Gardens and the poetic ethos of Gu Cheng, through the design of a journey architecture at Waiheke Island, expressed through four spaces that sequentially represent the themes of innocence, nature, culture and disappearance.

 
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Final model 1:100
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Site Plan 1:100
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Spatial Pavilion 1 - Him of Culture
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Spatial Pavilion 2 - Him of Innocence
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Spatial Pavilion 3 - Him of Nature
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Spatial Pavilion 4 - Him of Disappear
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Long Section 1:100
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Perspective
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Perspective

This journey architecture can also be seen as a garden consisting of four pavilions, which creates a narrative pathway through the life and poetry of Gu Cheng. 

The design situates itself uniquely within the New Zealand context, engaging with its natural beauty and cultural diversity. In doing so, it respects the ecological and visual sensitivity of the site and enriches it with a layer of cultural depth that bridges China and New Zealand. 
 

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Final model 1:100