Producing cultural space in the Chinese cities: a case study of grand theaters in Shanghai
Abstract
Following the rapid pace of urbanisation, Chinese cities have launched a new wave of large-scale infrastructure, including cultural building construction. From 1998 to 2015, more than 360 grand theaters were built together with libraries, museums and children’s palaces. The number of newly built theaters may have been more than the total sum built in Europe over the past 70 years. Through case studies of theaters built in Shanghai, this paper penetrates the phenomenon of the “heat of cultural buildings” and discovers the history, intentions and effects of these theaters on Chinese cities. Following on-site investigation of the city and theaters, the materials of theater building in China are presented. Theaters of various types are discussed in the framework of urban space, design language and consumerist culture. The authors find that the rapid growth of cultural facilities epitomises the ambition and strong implementation of Chinese (and Asian) governments in the wave of urbanisation and globalization.
Keyword : cultural space, Chinese cities, grand theaters, Shanghai
How to Cite
Xue, C. Q., Sun, C., & Zhang, L. (2020). Producing cultural space in the Chinese cities: a case study of grand theaters in Shanghai. Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 44(1), 32-43. https://doi.org/10.3846/jau.2020.10800
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Ando, T. (2015, July). The challenges of creating a cathedral to culture. A + U, Special Issue on Poly Grand Theater, 3, 24–27.
Andreu, P. (2015). Archi memories. CITIC Press.
Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: a social critique of the judgment of taste. Harvard University Press.
Chang, T. (2000). Renaissance revisited: Singapore as a “global city for the arts”. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 24(4), 818–831. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.00280
Chen, J., Qi, X., & Chen, J. (2015). Multi-collisions in the kaleidoscope – a review of Shanghai Jiading Poly grand theatre. Time + Architecture, 1, 120–125.
Cheng, Y. (2015). Contemporary performing arts architecture in the multidimensional perspective. China Architecture and Building Press.
Debord, G. (1995). The society of spectacle. Zone Books.
Enright, T. (2016). The making of grand Paris. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/10476.001.0001
Featherstone, M., & Lash, S. (Eds.). (1999). Spaces of culture: city, nation, world. Sage.
Gates, B. (2014). Have you hugged a concrete pillar today? GatesNotes: The Blog of Bill Gates. https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Making-the-Modern-World
Grenfell, M. (2004). Pierre Bourdieu: agent provocateur. Continuum.
Hong Kong Cultural Center. (2017). Annual Report of Hong Kong Cultural Center, 2014–2016.
Izenour, G. C. (1996). Theater design. Yale University Press.
Jencks, C. (2004). The architecture of the jumping universe: A polemic: how complexity science is changing architecture and culture. Academy Editions.
Klingmann, A. (2007). Brandscapes: architecture in the experience economy. MIT Press.
Kong, L., Ching, C., & Chou, T. (2015). Arts, culture and the making of global cities – creating new urban landscape in Asia. Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781784715847
Lee, L. (1999). Shanghai Modern: the flowering of new urban culture in China. Harvard University Press.
Ma, W. (2015, July). Interview with Sun Jiwei. A + U, Special Issue on Poly Grand Theater, 3, 42–47.
Mao, Z. (1991). Zai Yan’an wenyi zuotanhui shang de jianghua (Speech at the Yan’an forum on literature and art, 1943). In Mao Zedong xuanji di san juan (pp. 847–848). Beijing: People’s Publishing House.
Ministry of Culture. (2007). Wenhua shiye fazhan jiuwu jihua he 2010 nian yuanjing mubiao gangyao [Development plan of cultural affairs and the vision of 2010]. Ministry of Culture.
Murray, P. (2004). The saga of the Sydney Opera House: the dramatic story of the design and construction of the icon of modern Australia. Spon Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203358160
Nippon Shekki. (1995). Architectural design of Oriental Music Hall. Time + Architecture, (4), 8–10.
Ong, A. (2011). Hyperbuilding: spectacle, speculation, and the hyperspace of sovereignty. In A. Ong & A. Roy (Eds.), Worlding cities: Asian experiments and the art of being global. WileyBlackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444346800.ch8
Owens, P. (2013). World cities cultural report. Tongji University Press.
Shanghai Statistic Bureau. (2018). Shanghai Statistic Annual Report. Shanghai, Statistic Bureau.
Shen, L., Lu, W., & Wang, B. (2016). Strategic thinking on the cultural spatial planning of Shanghai towards a global city. Urban Planning Forum, 3, 63–70.
Shanghai Grand Theater. (2017). 2015–2016 Annual Report. Shanghai, Shanghai Grand Theater.
Short, J. R. (2004). Global metropolitan: globalizing cities in a capitalist world. Routledge.
Smil, V. (2014). Making the modern world: materials and dematerialization. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sun, C. (2019). Appendix I, Database of grand theaters in China: 1998–2018. In C. Xue (Ed.), Grand Theater Urbanism – Chinese cities in the 21st century. Springer.
Wu, C. (2012). Shanghai Oriental Arts Center – Interviewing Cui Zhongfang, chief architect. Jianzhu Jiyi (Architectural Technology), (4), 54–57.
Xue, C. Q. L. (2006). Building a revolution: Chinese architecture since 1980. Hong Kong University Press.
Xue, C. Q. L. (2010). World Architecture in China. Joint Publishing Ltd. Co.
Xue, C. Q. L., & Ding, G. (2018). A history of design institutes in China: from Mao to market. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203709917
Xue, C. Q. L., & Zhou, M. (2007). Importation and adaptation: building “One City and Nine Towns” in Shanghai, a case study of Vittorio Gregotti’s plan of Pujiang Town. Urban Design International, 12(1), 21–40. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000180
Xiao, L. (2015). The record of global city forum on the first UN world cities day. Shanghai People’s Publishing House.
Yang, Z. (2016). Dajuyuan de ‘zhengzhi xushi’ ji dui chengshi wenhua de suxing [The “political narration” of the grand theater and its shaping of the urban culture]. Henan shehui kexue [Social Science of Henan], 24(3), 115–122.
Yu, J. (2014). Pobing zhilv – shanghai dajuyuan xunli [Breaking the ice – road of Shanghai Grand Theater]. Shanghai Jiaotong University Press.
Zukin, S. (1993). Landscape of power: from Detroit to Disney World. University of California Press.
Zhang, Z. M. (2005). Urban development and urban comprehensive competitiveness in Modern Shanghai. Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
Andreu, P. (2015). Archi memories. CITIC Press.
Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction: a social critique of the judgment of taste. Harvard University Press.
Chang, T. (2000). Renaissance revisited: Singapore as a “global city for the arts”. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 24(4), 818–831. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.00280
Chen, J., Qi, X., & Chen, J. (2015). Multi-collisions in the kaleidoscope – a review of Shanghai Jiading Poly grand theatre. Time + Architecture, 1, 120–125.
Cheng, Y. (2015). Contemporary performing arts architecture in the multidimensional perspective. China Architecture and Building Press.
Debord, G. (1995). The society of spectacle. Zone Books.
Enright, T. (2016). The making of grand Paris. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/10476.001.0001
Featherstone, M., & Lash, S. (Eds.). (1999). Spaces of culture: city, nation, world. Sage.
Gates, B. (2014). Have you hugged a concrete pillar today? GatesNotes: The Blog of Bill Gates. https://www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Making-the-Modern-World
Grenfell, M. (2004). Pierre Bourdieu: agent provocateur. Continuum.
Hong Kong Cultural Center. (2017). Annual Report of Hong Kong Cultural Center, 2014–2016.
Izenour, G. C. (1996). Theater design. Yale University Press.
Jencks, C. (2004). The architecture of the jumping universe: A polemic: how complexity science is changing architecture and culture. Academy Editions.
Klingmann, A. (2007). Brandscapes: architecture in the experience economy. MIT Press.
Kong, L., Ching, C., & Chou, T. (2015). Arts, culture and the making of global cities – creating new urban landscape in Asia. Edward Elgar. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781784715847
Lee, L. (1999). Shanghai Modern: the flowering of new urban culture in China. Harvard University Press.
Ma, W. (2015, July). Interview with Sun Jiwei. A + U, Special Issue on Poly Grand Theater, 3, 42–47.
Mao, Z. (1991). Zai Yan’an wenyi zuotanhui shang de jianghua (Speech at the Yan’an forum on literature and art, 1943). In Mao Zedong xuanji di san juan (pp. 847–848). Beijing: People’s Publishing House.
Ministry of Culture. (2007). Wenhua shiye fazhan jiuwu jihua he 2010 nian yuanjing mubiao gangyao [Development plan of cultural affairs and the vision of 2010]. Ministry of Culture.
Murray, P. (2004). The saga of the Sydney Opera House: the dramatic story of the design and construction of the icon of modern Australia. Spon Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203358160
Nippon Shekki. (1995). Architectural design of Oriental Music Hall. Time + Architecture, (4), 8–10.
Ong, A. (2011). Hyperbuilding: spectacle, speculation, and the hyperspace of sovereignty. In A. Ong & A. Roy (Eds.), Worlding cities: Asian experiments and the art of being global. WileyBlackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444346800.ch8
Owens, P. (2013). World cities cultural report. Tongji University Press.
Shanghai Statistic Bureau. (2018). Shanghai Statistic Annual Report. Shanghai, Statistic Bureau.
Shen, L., Lu, W., & Wang, B. (2016). Strategic thinking on the cultural spatial planning of Shanghai towards a global city. Urban Planning Forum, 3, 63–70.
Shanghai Grand Theater. (2017). 2015–2016 Annual Report. Shanghai, Shanghai Grand Theater.
Short, J. R. (2004). Global metropolitan: globalizing cities in a capitalist world. Routledge.
Smil, V. (2014). Making the modern world: materials and dematerialization. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sun, C. (2019). Appendix I, Database of grand theaters in China: 1998–2018. In C. Xue (Ed.), Grand Theater Urbanism – Chinese cities in the 21st century. Springer.
Wu, C. (2012). Shanghai Oriental Arts Center – Interviewing Cui Zhongfang, chief architect. Jianzhu Jiyi (Architectural Technology), (4), 54–57.
Xue, C. Q. L. (2006). Building a revolution: Chinese architecture since 1980. Hong Kong University Press.
Xue, C. Q. L. (2010). World Architecture in China. Joint Publishing Ltd. Co.
Xue, C. Q. L., & Ding, G. (2018). A history of design institutes in China: from Mao to market. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203709917
Xue, C. Q. L., & Zhou, M. (2007). Importation and adaptation: building “One City and Nine Towns” in Shanghai, a case study of Vittorio Gregotti’s plan of Pujiang Town. Urban Design International, 12(1), 21–40. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.udi.9000180
Xiao, L. (2015). The record of global city forum on the first UN world cities day. Shanghai People’s Publishing House.
Yang, Z. (2016). Dajuyuan de ‘zhengzhi xushi’ ji dui chengshi wenhua de suxing [The “political narration” of the grand theater and its shaping of the urban culture]. Henan shehui kexue [Social Science of Henan], 24(3), 115–122.
Yu, J. (2014). Pobing zhilv – shanghai dajuyuan xunli [Breaking the ice – road of Shanghai Grand Theater]. Shanghai Jiaotong University Press.
Zukin, S. (1993). Landscape of power: from Detroit to Disney World. University of California Press.
Zhang, Z. M. (2005). Urban development and urban comprehensive competitiveness in Modern Shanghai. Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.