The Rise of Beijing

For the closing lecture of the Faculty of Landscape and Design's series [Detours]: Tactical Approaches to Urbanization in China, Professor Zhu Jianfei from the University of Melbourne delivered A Space of the State: Beijing, 1949-1959 at UofT's Munk Centre for International Studies. In a room filled with interested and eager students and faculty, Jianfei explored the effects of the post-People's Republic on the city, which included a significant amount of nationalistic pride, symbolic architecture and cultural and social programs. The focus of this lecture was China's north eastern city of Beijing.

China's rich history of dynasties and territorial pursuits was enriched with Mao Zedong's establishment of the Communist system in Beijing and China in 1945. Under his ruling,

China not only saw the beginning of industrialization, but also widespread building and nationalistic efforts.

Jianfei discussed the reasoning for Chinese design, Chinese traditional design patterns and architectural styles, as well as the influences of Western and Russian building types.

These endeavors included architectural spaces such as Tiananmen Square, which today is still the heart of Beijing. At one time traditional Chinese architecture was designed on a raised platform, with the emperor always situated at the centre. There are differences today that have since changed as the modes of governance and social orders in China have changed.

Jianfei also focused on the work of Liang Sicheng, a Chinese historian, designer and architect, to further explore the effects on China today and the characteristics that make Beijing "a space rather than just a place."

We are left with the understanding that the post-1959 Beijing not only maintained its status as an imperial city but also as a city striving to be a world city - a status which uses architecture and urbanism to create a modern space. With this, Beijing began its journey on the economic, business, trading, cultural and social sectors along with other parts of the world.

[Detours], a week of lectures, symposium and the opening of an exhibition, was dubbed "the exploration of tactical approaches to urbanization in China." Held from November 2 - 6, the series proved as an investigation of modern building design in many of China's cities. These plans, designed by Chinese architects and companies, demonstrate the incorporation of issues of governance and economy, and hint towards a portrayal of western influences of design and style.

With Beijing's 2008 Olympics just around the corner, Beijing today is undergoing massive reconstruction, change and improvements on a city-wide basis. [Detours] and Professor Jianfei's lecture come at a much needed time in understanding how to build, what to build and why.

This lecture series and exhibition are the first of their kind at UofT. They have sparked a major interest among students and faculty members alike.

See the [Detours] exhibition at U ofT's Eric Arthur Gallery, open on Monday to Friday from 10-5, and Saturday from 12-5. Admission is free.