City Walk-Understand the Aesthetics of Urban Architecture

Understand the Aesthetics of Urban Architecture

The architecture of a city is not only a form of frozen art, but also that of frozen history. The quaint old structures and futuristic designs of the new era are seen in the buildings of different periods, and they are part of the aesthetic biography of Hangzhou’s architectural evolution.

Hu Xueyan's Former Residence

Built in 1872, the residence of Hu Xueyan, the founder of Huqing Yutang, is a fusion of both traditional Chinese and Western architectural elements. The complex is lavished decorated with precious timber materials such as ginkgo, nanmu, rosewood, red sandalwood, cedar, etc. Dominating its back garden Zhiyuan is a mount of jagged rocks, containing the largest existing artifi cial cave in China.

Hangzhou Olympic Center Building Cluster
The complex consists of Stadium "Big Lotus", Gymnasium/Aquatic Sports Arena "Butterfl y", Tennis Center "Small Lotus", and Training Hall "Jade Cong". The "Big Lotus”, in particular, with its unique design and graceful temperament, stands as an epitome of Jiangnan architectural charm and at the same time, a symbol of inclusiveness and good will of Hangzhou.
Intersection of Feihong Rd and Wentao Rd

Liangzhu Art and Culture Center

Designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the building features a majestic roof, under which light falls through the hollowed-out structure, creating a calm and profound texture. The glass wall is like a slowly unfolding painting scroll, refl ecting the cherry blossoms in March and the sparkling water throughout the seasons. Here, there is no clear boundary between natural beauty and artifi cial power, and the unique beauty of trigonometric geometry is seen everywhere.
150M northwest of the intersection of Binhe Rd (S) and Yuniao Rd, Yuhang District

Xiangshan Campus of China Academy of Art

The Xiangshan Campus adopts local cultural elements as its architectural language, and uses simple brick, stone, rammed earth and plaster walls to create the most interesting artistic atmosphere. The campus houses a folk art museum and China's fi rst international design museum which contains a collection of modern Western design systems.
China Academy of Art, Zhuantang Subdistrict
Xiangshan Art Commune
Adhering to the space aesthetics of the new Jiangnan architecture, the commune features white-washed walls and black-tiled roofs, in a setting that blends hill and water elements, urban and rural sights, just like the artistic conception of the Song Jiangnan landscape painting, Pure and Remote View of Streams and Mountains.
Chuangyi Rd, Zhuantang Town (next to China Academy of Art)