The Flaws in Asian Architecture

By: Alexander Drew Perry

“Map with China and Japan”(Courtesy of Google Images)

““The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary”. ~Vince Lombardi

Do we need Optimism in Architecture?

◇ If we looked for Optimism more how can we see through the eye’s of pessimism with Structural Supporting?

“Asian Cairns"Courtesy of (dezeen.com)

Structural SupportingThis is what holds a building up. It is the full interior design of the building.

Example:

Shear Wall ExampleCourtesy of (yoshino-gypsum.com)

How Can architecture Improve in Asia?

◇ Cost effective and Efficient Resources

◇ Improve techniques with Balance and Stability problems

Chinese

PagodaCourtesy of

(Google

Images)

China’s Architecture Flaws

Banyan Tree Resort in China

Courtesy of (raredelights.com)

The Great wall of China was a series of fortifications made of brick, wood, stone, and dirt (National Geographic).

The way the strongholds on the Great Wall of China were made, means the Wall could have fallen down if the invaders of China had strategic approaches of taking it down.

The Great Wall of China, was it not built well enough?

Modern Chinese Architecture

◇ China Keeps building their buildings Tall, but why?

◇ Why are there there so many?

◇ What do these buildings do for China?

Bamboo Resource Use

❖ Asia has become increasingly popular with its bamboo use. This becoming hard for the environment, especially in China.

❖ Bamboo damages a lot of forest land.

❖ How does this affect Biodiversity?

Statistics Chart on Bamboo removal

Courtesy of Statistic Information from (http://pulitzercenter.org/)

Japanese Architecture Flaws

“Cherry Blossom Railroad”Courtesy of (Google Images)

Traditional Japanese Architecture Flaws

❖ Traditional Houses in Japan would use a whole Cypress Tree as the support for the whole house.

❖ Using these trees weakens the foundation.

Wooden Cypress Support BeamsCourtesy of (Google Images)

Japan’s Earthquake-Proof Buildings

❖ The buildings do not have shear walls.

❖ Japanese architects believe wood to be flexible and bendable.

❖ Japanese architects do not use connectors in their architecture.

❖ Concrete is used as earthquake-proof foundations.

❖ Instability problems in earthquake-proof buildings.

❖ Use cost effective

Resources

❖ Apply more modern

designs to their exotic architectur

e

China’s Architecture Flaws

Japan’s Architecture Flaws

Overview of Both Countries Flaws

What these two could do to help their situation

❖ Invest to much money in their Architecture

❖ Over use bamboo resources in architectural wants vs. needs

❖ Does not use efficient earthquake-proof material

❖ Increase in using concrete foundations

“

As Robert Greene said in his book Mastery, “People around you, constantly under the pull of their emotions, change their ideas by the day or by the hour, depending on their mood. You must never assume that what people say or do in a particular moment is a statement of their permanent desires.”

Works Cited:

"Asian Cairns by Vincent

Callebaut." Dezeen Asian Cairns by Vincent Callebaut Comments. N.p., 21 Mar. 2013. Web. 23 Apr.

2015.

"Bamboo: Good or Bad for the

Environment - Green Building Elements."Green Building Elements. N.p., 27 Nov. 2011. Web. 01 May

2015.

"Bamboo in China." Unasylva. Ed.

Forestry Department. Corporate Document Depository, n.d. Web. 01 May 2015.

Gallagher, Sean. "China's Appetite for

Bamboo Is Damaging Forests."Pulitzer Center. Pulitzer Center, China, 12 Aug. 2011. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.

"Oriental Banyan Tree Lijiang Resort in China." Rare Delights Magazine. Rare

Delights Magazine, 07 Mar. 2013. Web. 01 May

2015.