“You think that old architecture is really good; pleasing to the eye, and comfortable and pleasant to live in, but you cannot afford to say that, lest others think you are going against the historical tide. So, you say it circuitously: old architecture really should be abolished, but the glazed tiles are worth preserving.”
Thus the Chinese architect and architectural historian Lin Huiyin, quoted here in 1933, provides the starting point for this informal talk which examines architectural innovation through examples of design in modern and contemporary China. By situating the issue of formal innovation, sometimes taken for granted at face value, in its historical context, the speaker invites the audience to reflect on the complex relationship between innovation and the larger historic forces at work.
What is Friday@1?
On most Fridays at 1 p.m. during the academic term, PSU School of Architecture students and faculty gather to hear from professional designers and architects, academics, visiting artists, innovators, and students in the program. Friday@1 is a perfect way to wrap up each week of intense creativity in the studio and get inspired for the productive weekend ahead.
Free and open to the public. All are welcome.