Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

A new perspective on eclectic attributes in architecture: taking eclectic architecture in Beijing and Hong Kong as an example

A new perspective on eclectic attributes in architecture: taking eclectic architecture in Beijing... JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2022.2074017 A new perspective on eclectic attributes in architecture: taking eclectic architecture in Beijing and Hong Kong as an example a,b b Kaiyu Cheng and Paulina Neisch a b Center of Architecture Research and Design, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing China; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong (Cityu), Hong Kong China ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Received 4 June 2021 The development of society enriches the connotation of various professional concepts and Accepted 2 May 2022 leads to ambiguity in their interpretation. With the increasing comprehensiveness of human exchange activities, this uncertainty has become a common phenomenon present in multiple KEYWORDS fields. In the field of architecture, the long-standing over-emphasis on imaginative and instinc- Architectural attribute; tive creation has led to a tendency to rely on the judgment based on the architect’s personal Actor-Network-Theory (ANT); experience when confronted with ambiguous concepts. Besides, the “black box” in the profes- cartography of controversies; sional field has made it difficult for other professions and the public to reasonably express their eclecticism; intuition demands. “Eclecticism” is such a divisive architectural concept that has emerged from cultural exchange. This paper aims to develop a modeling tool that could grasp complex concepts in a clear and comprehensive way. The study constructs the “Eclectic Attribute Models” as a visual translation by using the Cartography of Controversies based on Actor-Network-Theory (ANT). Then tested and enriched models by intuition studies. As a result, this research clarifies the contemporary interpretation of eclecticism: a design concept encompassing the essential attributes of Pluralism, Historicity, Elitism, Decoration, Innovation, and Symbolism. Finally, this paper also discusses the advantages, limitations, and prospects of controversy mapping in future interdisciplinary research practice. 1. Introduction multi-perspective interpretations make it difficult to In the era of globalization, society is changing more have a comprehensive and intuitive grasp of complex rapidly than ever. In addition to the constant emergence concepts. Not only does this lead to bias and of new ideas and terminology, people seem to be less controversy in the discussion within the profession, certain about previously agreed-upon concepts. While but also reduces the efficiency of interdisciplinary coop- the abundance of meanings is a manifestation of social eration. Such is the case with the concept of diversity of this age, repetitive, cross-disciplinary, and “Eclecticism ” in architecture: it is traditionally believed CONTACT Kaiyu Cheng kcheng224-c@my.cityu.edu.hk Center of Architecture Research and Design, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article As a general term of social science study, “controversy” means complicated and uncertain phenomena to be observed in collective life. In Venturini’s documentation, controversies are defined as such: “The word ‘controversy’ refers here to every bit of science and technology which is not yet stabilized, closed or ‘black boxed’ . . . we use it as a general term to describe shared uncertainty.” (Wissink 2013; Venturini 2010) In this paper, we define the controversy as an “in-progress” definition of phenomena that are under constant reconsideration. In Carroll Meeks’ article “Creative Eclecticism”, the author contends that eclecticism is an “almost universal phenomenon generally occurring as a transition between periods of more vigorous activity in the arts and in philosophy”. Meanwhile, it is “not limited to one or two exceptional periods”, and it’s “meaning and the value placed upon it have shifted often” (Carroll, 1953). © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Architectural Institute of Japan, Architectural Institute of Korea and Architectural Society of China. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 2 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH to be simply a classical revivalist architectural style that with such change and dislocation, the most urgent has died out, yet another view is that eclectic architec- task is to make the controversy clearly and completely ture has evolved over time into postmodernist architec- “visible”; that is, to construct an intuitive platform that ture. The study of eclecticism should focus not only on allows different views in the professional field to be the external stylistic forms, but more importantly, on the noticed. internal attributes that allowed it to exist and evolve. Therefore, we introduce the cartography of controver- 1.2. The complexity of interdisciplinary sies as a method to excavate and visually translate the collaboration concept of “Eclecticism” in architecture and achieves a contemporary interpretation of complex ideas Another impact of social development is the “interdis- through the construction of architectural attribute ciplinary collaboration”. We are in the midst of a global, model. interdisciplinary, and transmedia transformation (Canclini 2014). In this context, each product is itself dependent upon other professions. Similarly, the con- 1.1. The ambiguity of concepts tinuous development and subdivision of science and technology has made it difficult for many studies to The development of society has brought about “varia- achieve substantial breakthroughs without help from bility of explanation” (Browning, Halcli, and Webster other disciplines (Hansen 2001). In addition, the wide- 2000). In a society with relatively simple relationships, spread application of information technology has also it is easier for people to reach a clear consensus on the made it easy to express arrogant opinions upon topics meaning of concepts. However, since the Industrial in any professional field. However, for issues that are Revolution, life, work, and society itself have gone divisive within the profession, suggestions from other through unceasing, dramatic change. This develop- fields often make the controversy even murkier. ment process has caused each generation to base Therefore, it is necessary to develop an open research their concepts on vastly different conditions (Hansen method to make the controversial issues not only 2001), and the originally simple ideas are constantly “visible” within the discipline but also “readable” across given new meanings and explanations. Just as “mod- disciplines. As a result, researchers from various fields ern” has begun to represent a style or even a period, in will be able to collaborate through this platform. In the many cases, the word “contemporary” means more future, it could even be developed into a “democratic than “the present moment”; the connotations of enterprise” (Venturini 2010), allowing the public to these terms have been enriched as society evolves participate effectively in the discussion of professional (Danto and Goehr 1997). Nowadays, it is difficult for issues. Since both the ambiguity in the interpretation us to find stable technical terms and secure theoretical of concepts and the complexity of interdisciplinary frameworks to explain every on-going phenomenon in cooperation are mainly caused by social change, we the midst of such changes (Browning, Halcli, and hope to study the controversial phenomenon by Webster 2000). More often than not, this variability of a social science method. Because “sociology is always explanation leads to ambiguity rather than consensus: about social change” (Hansen 2001). in social science, the word “controversy” is usually used as a generic term to describe such uncertainty (Wissink 2013; Venturini 2010). Broadly speaking, anything 1.3. Cartography of controversies between “not being able to ignore each other” and “trying to reach consensus” can be called a controversy “Cartography of Controversies” (also known as (Venturini 2010). Unfortunately, people devote only “Controversy Analysis” or “Controversy Mapping”) is a limited amount of time to controversies (Venturini an effective social science research tool to analyze 2012). Perhaps it is because they are too focused on controversies. Broadly speaking, “the cartography of their own fighting to pay attention to other ambiguous controversies is a set of techniques to explore and issues. Or maybe they are simply obsessed with famil- visualize issues” (Venturini 2010). This method was iar theories, bound by tradition, habit, prejudice, or introduced by Bruno Latour as a teaching practice of even sheer laziness (Hansen 2001)? In any case, faced the Actor-Network Theory (ANT). ANT claims that, In Browning, Halcli, and Webster’s publication “Understanding contemporary society: Theories of the present”, they believe “the large-scale migration of peoples, communication of information and images, and the rapid movement of materials around the globe have combined to bring into question relatively fixed notions of culture . . . Amidst this change and dislocation, it is often difficult nowadays to identify dominant theoretical traditions in fiercely contested intellectual realms”. Moreover, with the social change, “that it seems impossible to fix analysis and explanation in any stable set of terms”. In Hansen’s book “The Division of Labour in post-industrial Societies”, the author believes that social science has always been the backbone of social change study: “In one way or the other, sociology has always been preoccupied with social change . . . During its history sociology has shifted its primary attention between change and stability . . . I believe, to contend that during this time-span a major interest for sociologists has been to study what is changing in society and why.” JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 3 “modern societies cannot be described without recog- Africa and Latin America due to the colonial activity of nizing them as having a fibrous, thread-like, wiry, western countries. Cultural exchange is considered to stringy, ropy, capillary character” (Latour, B 1996). In be the main factor in the emergence of eclectic archi- this regard, Bruno extended the concept of “actor ” tecture. For a very long time, there was no disagree- from human groups to “non-human” and even “non- ment about this interpretation. Hence, the task of an individual entities”, thus “accounting for the very architect was relatively simple, which was to “learn the essence of societies and natures” (Latour, B 1996). rules and forms of classical architecture” (Carpo 2005), With the continuous contribution of large research and “search for the style representative of the epoch” and teaching groups, it gradually evolved into a full- (Kazhar 2016). In fact, many architects today still regard fledged research method (Venturini 2012). “Eclecticism” as a discussion on style or form. Controversies mapping can be seen as an “educational version” of Actor-Network Theory (Law and Hassard 1.4.2. Eclecticism from a post-modern perspective 1999), which retains the core concept of ANT while Proceeding into the 20th century, the development of avoiding the conceptual complexity and is therefore science and technology brought about modernism easily understood and used by researchers. Nowadays, and avant-garde movements. Meanwhile, cultural the development of technology has enriched the exchange that had become more profound and means of controversy analysis. Although there are diverse disrupted the long-standing classical order great differences between various approaches, they (Canclini 2014). Classic eclecticists were also criticized are all enabled by digital technologies, and are focused for their “willful resignation of originality”, who only on the capture, analysis, and visualization (often based “[practiced] architecture as an art” (Kidney 1974). on the Internet and big data) to render legible context Similarly, eclectic architecture had gradually lost its (Marres 2015). As Bruno said, the so-called “network” is academic status since the 1930s and was condemned “an actor whose definition of the world outlines, traces, by intellectuals as a “bad habit that needs breaking”. delineates, describes, files, lists, records, marks or tags Even so, Kidney claimed that “eclecticism is not dead” a trajectory . . . A network is not a thing, but the (Kidney 1974). During this period, one of the most recorded movement of a thing” (Latour, B 1996). representative point of view comes from Charles When the network is demonstrated visually, the con- Jenks. In his book “The Language of Post-modern troversy is manifested accordingly, which is the pre- Architecture” (Jencks 1978), he called post-modern mise of opening a discussion. Therefore, the purpose architecture “Radical Eclecticism”, regarding it as the of this study is to translate the concept of eclecticism transformation and continuation of classic eclectic visually through the practice of controversy mapping. architecture (Jencks 1978; Steen 2015). Although these discussions on post-modern eclectic architecture still focused on the abstract, stylistic level due to the 1.4. Eclecticism: an architectural controversy constraints of the time, in any case, the controversy As in other professional fields, the classical concepts in about the concept of eclecticism has emerged since architecture are constantly being enriched with the then, and the eclectic architecture needs to have “a development of society, and “Eclecticism” is one of new look” (Kidney 1974). the more representative examples. Interpretations given at different times have rendered the meaning 1.4.3. Eclecticism from a contemporary perspective of eclecticism increasingly ambiguous. Therefore, In the contemporary era, the visual nature of architec- before interpreting the phenomenon and expressing ture and art is gradually disappearing. Eclecticism is the ideas, we should first clarify the contemporary accordingly expressed in a recessive way: architects no meaning of eclecticism. longer select concrete materials from classical forms (Classic Eclectic Architecture) or abstract them into 1.4.1. Eclecticism from a traditional perspective a collage of cultural symbols (Post-modern Eclectic A traditional view is that, as an architectural style, Architecture). Instead, they attempt to express emotions “Eclecticism” refers to the combination of multifarious directly through the language of space. This evolution (mainly Western classical) styles, which was popular in of architectural expression has led many researchers to Europe and the United States from the 19th to the believe that eclectic architecture has already “died early 20th century, and which spread widely in Asia, a natural death” (Sheppard 2006). However, the shift In Bruno’s article “On actor-network theory: A few clarifications ”, the author made a clear definition: “An ‘actor’ in ANT is a semiotic definition – an actant -, that is something that acts or to which activity is granted by others . . . An actant can literally be anything provided it is granted to be the source of an action” (Latour, B 1996). More than that, in Andrew Steen’s work “Radical Eclecticism and Post-Modern Architecture”, it shows that “According to Architectural Design editor Haig Beck, the working title of Charles Jencks’ The Language of Post-Modern Architecture . . . was ‘Radical Eclecticism’”. To this day, still many scholars only regard eclectic architecture as a collage style. In Sheppard’s documentation, “It (eclectic architecture) died a natural death with the advent of Modernism and the shift from conservative architectural thinking of the Beaux Arts to the more socially progressive movement in Europe and America” (Sheppard 2006). 4 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH in the way of expression from explicit to implicit does results through intuitive study. In the end of the paper, not mean the end of eclecticism. Today’s more compre- we conclude the contemporary interpretation of the hensive cultural exchanges ensure the persistence of concept of eclecticism. As a reflection, we also discuss various eclectic factors. In this paper, we define the the potential of this newly developed redefinition tool factors which are not affected by temporal and spatial in interdisciplinary integration. changes as “eclectic attributes”. On the one hand, these attributes exist as a medium between human needs and 2. Research methodology the expression of architectural space, and on the other hand, the investigation and translation of these attri- 2.1. Theoretical background: from ANT to butes through controversy mapping are crucial for cartography of controversies interpreting the ambiguous concept of eclecticism. The cartography method used in this article is With the visualization of attributes, we shall get a practical approach to Bruno Latour’s “Actor-Network- a comprehensive and intuitive grasp of the concept of Theory” (ANT). It is not only a method of observing eclecticism. things but also a mindset to systematically understand and deconstruct complex social phenomena. Although Bruno himself summarized ANT simply as “just look at 1.5. Research objects controversies and tell what you see” (Venturini 2010; In this light, the research objective of this paper was to Wissink, 2013), both “look” (observation) and “tell” analyze the complex controversy regarding the con- (description) have highly profound connotations. cept of eclecticism in architecture and develop an In terms of observation, the method adopts an innovative methodological tool that allows its redefini - attitude that is largely phenomenological. Bruno tion. In order to do so, the following discussion will be claimed, using a slogan from ANT, that the researcher divided into three parts: research methodology, visual must abandon preconceived bias and “[suspend] the expression, and intuitive judgment. In the next chap- common-sense hypothesis”. Meanwhile, it also ter, we will first introduce the research methodology. requires the researcher to respect their object of obser- Specifically, it includes the theoretical background and vation (whether human or phenomenon) and “follow operation steps of controversy mapping. As an open the actors themselves” honestly (Latour, B 2007). On research method, the cartography of controversy is this basis, it does not require the use of any specific capable of utilizing various precision tools to decon- observation approach. On the contrary, Actor-Network struct and translate controversies. Here, our study is -Theory suggests that researchers should remain open realized through the combination of bibliometric map- to different ideas as much as possible, and use all ping and table intuition. In the chapter after that, we search, observation, and mapping tools at hand, sepa- will explain the process of visual expression, in which rately and combined, so as to truly restore the “highest we operate with bibliometric mapping to successfully complexity” (Venturini 2010). This is because in the complete the visual translation from the literature data visualization stage of research, the first priority is to of eclectic architecture. As a result, the previously grasp the context of the controversy rather than to end ambiguous concept of eclecticism is intuitively the argument. As Bruno said, “I have often compared it expressed by the factor & attribute model. In the fourth to perspective drawing . . . ANT does not tell anyone chapter, we will discuss the intuitive judgment. With the shape that is to be drawn . . . but only how to go the help of tables as observation tools, the result above about systematically recording the world-building abil- and the proposed new methodological tool will be ities of the sites to be documented and registered” tested by the intuitive case studies of eclectic architec- (Latour, B 1999). ture in Beijing and Hong Kong. Through this intuition In terms of description, ANT emphasizes that the process, the accuracy and contemporariness of the complexity of controversies should be reflected and research shall be guaranteed. In short, it is a research made visible through its division into multiple levels, process that moves from methodology discussion to which manifests the research characteristics of system- research practice, and then to the verification of the atology thinking. Tommaso Venturini once divided The “intuition” introduced in this paper is the concept in Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology, it includes not only physical perception (observation) but also imagination and reflection (Zhang 2010; Husserl 2016). To grasp the essence, the intuition needs to be “filled” by the direct apprehension of the object, In Hintikka’s documentation: “First, there first of all are the objects of empirical intuition, prominently including the objects given to me in perception . . . Secondly, there are in Husserl intuitions provided by reflection on internal observation.” (Hintikka 2003) Bruno Latour has repeatedly emphasized the methodological attribute of ANT rather than the theoretical concept: “It was never a theory of what the social is made of” (Latour, B 1999). In “On recalling ANT” he claimed that “It (ANT) tries to refocus the originality of what is more a method to deploy the actor’s own world building activities than an alternative social theory” (Latour, B 1999). In the book “Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor- network-theory” published later on, the author even said that he had planned to give up “ANT” as a label for it is “so awkward, so confusing, so meaningless”, and to use a more “elaborate one” like “sociology of translation” or “sociology of innovation” (Latour, B 2007). Although Bruno Latour himself did not explain whether the ANT is affected by phenomenology, the “suspending the common-sense hypothesis” and “[following] the actors themselves” (Latour, B 2007) emphasized by ANT naturally remind one of the phenomenological ideas of “Epoché” (suspension) and the declaration of “Zu Den Sachen Selbst” (“facing the fact itself”, Heidegger 2013). JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 5 a complete study process of ANT into the observation be counted and quantified. A set of intuitive “bubble- and description of “statements”, “actors”, “networks”, line model” will then be generated through this auto- “cosmoses”, and “cosmopolitics” on respective levels matic or semi-automatic process. On the one hand, this (Venturini 2010). Each level (phenomenon) is both the type of model provided a complete and clear view of deconstructed factor of the higher-level and the result all the descriptive factors about the controversial issue; of the lower-level actors’ actions. The “actors” here on the other hand, its unified quantitative proportion refer either to humans/human groups, or to non- reveals the weight relationship, activity degree, and human factors such as natural elements, artworks, development trend of each factor. political institutions, technology that are endowed Since the mid-1990s, the rise of information tech- with “actor’s qualification”. Under the guidance of nology has not only digitalized our social life but has this systematic thought, the method “[allows] an also offered significant new opportunities to the prac- observer to zoom from the global to the local and tice of controversy analysis (Marres 2015). Today, the back” (Latour, B 1999). Finally, the network itself will digital instruments for the aforementioned collection, experience an extension, and the scientific phenom- analysis, and visualization of data are proliferating. enon as well as the casual relationship will be With the help of certain software, we could interpret explained (Latour, B 1996). the “opaque and complex topics” much more effec - Taking the study of this article as an example, if the tively (Marres 2015). Examples include “Vosviewer” for eclectic architectural phenomenon is regarded as literature review, Factiva for data collection, “NVivo” for a “cosmos”, then the human groups and social events content analysis, and “Edrawmax” for modeling. All that contribute to this phenomenon are the “net- these software technologies have facilitated the visua- works” in this “cosmos”, and the internal factors that lization of controversies. lead to these behaviors and events, such as human needs, become the individual “actors” on the next level below that need to be observed and described. 2.3. The judgment of tables On the other hand, because the hierarchy within the Although the establishment of the model has made ANT system is infinitely divided (Wei and Zeng 2009; the controversy clearly visible, the accuracy of the Von Bertalanffy 1987), these eclectic architectural phe- result itself still requires intuitive testing. This testing nomena, together with other architectural phenom- work should contain three aspects of significance: ena, constitute the “cosmopolitics” of social change firstly, as a criticism of indirect experience (models), it on a higher level, and our cartography work can be shall ensure the accuracy of final results; secondly, extended upwards and downwards endlessly. Hence, because researchers are always intuitively observing this research attitude “will not make your life easier” the phenomenon in a current temporal and spatial (Venturini 2010). Rather, by opening up to as many context, the process shall endow the conclusion with factors as possible, which help researchers understand contemporaneity; thirdly, the testing should be each other’s ideas, it enables one to grasp the whole designed in a form that is more open and easier to controversy, and shows that things could be explained understand, so that it allows for the participation of in different ways. a wider range of professions in the process of criticiz- ing and enriching the model, and giving diversity to the expression of concepts. Eventually, it may develop 2.2. The expression of models into an “interdisciplinary undertaking” (Marres 2015). The most intuitive way to visualize controversies is to Based on these considerations, this study chooses build a model. Since controversies always first occur to use the tabular form to test the model results. In within the professional field, academic papers can addition to the consideration of expression, the tabu- often be used as the basis and data source for visual lation process itself also means a kind of critical trans- translation, and this translation process is known as lation. The process of selecting, judging, and “bibliometric mapping” (Van Eck and Waltman 2010). transcribing the observed phenomena and data is con- This is a research method widely used in the field of ducive not only to its explanation to the audience but literary analysis and is also the beginning of the “from also to the establishment of a rational mindset (Vivant literature to actor” process in an ANT-based study 2018). Specifically, the relationship between rows and (Venturini 2010). Specifically, through the collection columns of the table can be fully utilized in the testing and analysis of keywords and citation data provided process. By taking the model results obtained in the by the literature search engine, the definition or expla- previous stage as the control of the vertical “column”, nation of ambiguous concepts in the research field will the results can provide professional guidance while The Actor-Network-Theory can be regarded as an application form of system science. According to the principle of system integrity in SYSTEMATICISM, “As the objective world is inexhaustible, there is no limitation to people’s understanding of the system level, whether in depth or in breadth” (Wei and Zeng 2009). 6 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH being criticized and enriched by intuitive study; mean- occurrence relations” between these terms (Van Eck while, the horizontal “row” of the table can be flexibly and Waltman 2017). More specifically, this digital tool adjusted according to the specific research object, could help efficiently build a “keyword map” based on which depends on the researcher’s own stratification the co-citation data between publications. In general, criterion and accuracy of the research content. In this result enables researchers to have an intuitive a word, the demonstration of cognition depends on overview of the professional fields, development the participation of intuition. Each intersection (blank) trends, and research priorities that are involved in the in the table is the combination of indirect experience controversy. (dogmatic concept) and perceptual knowledge (intui- Unfortunately, we were unable to get a valuable tion), which is the “genuine epistemic gains” that could result after we try to draw the network diagram with rise to rational knowledge (Howell 2007). the retrieval keyword of “Eclectic Architecture” (based Reviewing the above process, it seems that the car- on the search data derived from “Web of Science”, tography method has complicated the discussion of the Figure 1). On the one hand, it indicates that the controversy. But in fact, “if the cartography of contro- number of literatures on “Eclectic Architecture” (165 versies is complex, it is because collective life itself is articles) is not enough to support the software to complex” (Venturini 2010). Controversy mapping not build a complex network. This can be verified by only enables us to have a clear grasp of the ambiguous comparing the result with that generated from the concepts with its results, as a manifestation of systema- keyword of “Eclecticism” (not limited to architecture, tic thinking, its deconstruction process also makes it 1028 papers, Figure 2). On the other hand, due to the possible for each part to yield new discoveries, and complexity of factors discussed in the architectural ultimately the sum of the parts is bound to be greater field, many citation data concerning certain eras, than the whole (Venturini 2012), which allows us to place names, architects’ names, and specific case obtain a more comprehensive rational understanding. names became distracting factors to the mapping Generally speaking, the method developed in this paper work. Therefore, a semi-automatic bibliometric is a cyclical process of “model building – intuitive judg- method is necessary to enrich the results: In the case ment – critical reflection”. The details of this process will of a small number of articles, it becomes possible for be discussed in the following two chapters. researchers to read and understand individual texts. After all, the controversy analysis itself is based on the discourse analysis. 3. Visual expression 3.1. Automatic modeling test 3.2. Modeling process According to the discussion of the methodology The specific process started with using the search engine above, and in order to quickly establish an understand- of “Web of Science” to determine the source of literature ing of the concept of “Eclecticism” in architecture, this data with the keywords of “Eclectic + Architecture” (The study first attempts to use the literature analysis soft- keyword “Eclectic” will contain the search results of ware “Vosviewer” to automatically generate a visual “Eclecticism”). Then we limited the search to the period model. As a digital instrument for creating visual dia- “1978–2021” (since the controversy first appeared with grams based on network data (Van Eck and Waltman the publication of “The Language of Postmodern 2020), VOSviewer could visually display the most Architecture” in 1978) and found 160 relevant results. important terms in a literature database and the “co- Figure 1. Co-occurrence relation model of “eclectic architecture”. In Howell Robert’s study, the author argued that “despite the apparent diversity of responses to the knowledge argument, they all boil down to a response according to which genuine epistemic gains are made when an individual has an experience. I call this the acquaintance response . . . there is some epistemic gain to be achieved by actually undergoing a particular state, and that it is only by undergoing the state that such an epistemic gain can be achieved.” JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 7 Figure 2. Co-occurrence relation model of “Eclecticism”. After that, we used the “literature proportion” tool pro- authors will give an interpretation when they put for- vided by the website to exclude the literature unrelated ward a concept, and thus it is not difficult to find these to the architecture field, and 109 results were obtained. keywords. In addition, since these authors express their After downloading all the available, English literature, we own views while referring to other researchers’ views collected an eventual result of 82 academic papers, which for theoretical support, the actual data obtained on the are the “literature data” supporting the bibliometric map- definition of “eclecticism” is far larger in amount than ping in this study. So far, we have completed the first the number of literatures itself, which further increases round of literature retrieval. the accuracy of the interpretation of the concept. In the second round of retrieval work, the keyword Finally, in order to make the statistical results more search tool was used to search again for the keyword intuitive, all the keywords we got must be “merged” “eclectic” within each article. By making accurate ana- properly according to their similarity before the visua- lyses of the context of these keywords in the articles, lization operation. This is because all these techniques we could find the author’s interpretation data of the and processes are used to “make complexity readable” ambiguous concept of eclecticism, namely the key- (Venturini 2012). In other words, the observation pro- words used to define it. After this, we could classify cess should be as complex as possible and the descrip- and count them according to the two perspectives tion as simply as possible. The final data results are mentioned above (eclecticism as a classic style and then visually transcribed by the visualization software eclecticism transformed into a postmodern style). “Edrawmax” and eventually translated into a set of This process may seem complicated, but in fact, most “Eclectic Factor Models” (Figure 3). 8 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Figure 3. Eclectic factor models. 3.3. Model interpretation However, we should also realize that, although the In this set of bubble-line models, the formerly ambig- visual modeling of eclectic factors above could help us uous definition of “Eclecticism” given by previous lit- improve our understanding of the eclectic architec- erature is clearly deconstructed. Every factor is tural phenomenon, it has not established the relation- depicted as a “bubble” to the same scale, which ship between space expression and human behavior could intuitively reflect their specific weight. To be and needs. As is pointed out in the methodology dis- sure, this digitally mediated representation fills the cussion section, in order to visualize more network observation gap between macro-concepts and micro- systems and individual actors behind the controversy, factors (Venturini 2012), and allows for a dialogue the work of deconstruction needs to be continued. In between concepts from different times and places on this regard, we could still go back to the literature and the same platform. Through a comparison of the two enlarge the scope of the search. By using the author’s concept models, it is not difficult to draw a set of keywords for “the causes of the eclectic phenomenon” conclusions for the current stage: (1) The bubbles as the literature data, we could get the “Eclectic that appear in both models, as persistent factors, are Attributes – Human Needs Model” in the same way of the “eclectic attributes” derived from the big data; (2) counting and mapping (Figure 4). In this set of decon- In addition to these invariable factors, those factors struction models, human needs and space expression with obvious transformation relations demonstrate an could be connected by attributes. It provides architects evolutionary trend in the expression of eclectic attri- with an “observation checking list” to improve the butes; (3) These transformational factors, together with efficiency and accuracy of thinking in the process of the remaining unique factors, reflect the time charac- architectural design and makes the creative work more teristics of eclectic architecture. In short, through the reasonable. Of course, this process of deconstruction analysis of these literature data, we can understand the may continue to be developed: the more levels are idea of “Eclecticism” in architecture as a design con- deconstructed, and the more comprehensive the cept that includes the basic attributes of Pluralism, actors’ observation is, the more the final results of Historicity, Elitism, Decoration, Innovation, and spatial expression fit the current and even future Symbolism. It should also be noticed that the focus of space-time relationship. this concept is constantly changing with the progress It must be noted that, this concept analysis’s accu- of society. To be sure, unlike the previous one-sided racy needs to be tested before it is further translated understanding, the conceptual models above based and applied to design work. In the following discus- on data translation have a much more comprehensive sion, this study compares and tests the model’s accu- interpretation value. racy through the intuition research of specific cases of JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 9 Figure 4. Eclectic attributes – human needs model. classic and post-modern eclectic architecture, which conduct an intuitive study of several specific architec- shall provide a reliable reference for future architec- tural cases and use tables as a vehicle of intuitive tural practice. results to make judgments on the results of the model. 4. Intuitive judgment 4.2. The design of table test Take the eclectic cases of Beijing and Hong Kong as The content of the table consists of indirect experience examples (the result of the model) and subjective judgment (the result of intuition). Specifically, each column of the table corresponds to one factor in the previous “eclec- 4.1. The purpose of table test tic factor models”. As in the model, the “eclectic attri- Through the visual translation of the model, our butes”, “transformation relation factors”, and “unique research successfully unearthed and explained the factors” are also distinguished by different colors. meaning of the concept of “Eclecticism” in both classic Meanwhile, each row in the table records the intuitive and postmodern eclectic architecture. It can be argued results of the expressed factors’ phenomenon from that, with the emergence of these models, the “inter- different perspectives. In this article, the intuitive per- pretation value” of ambiguous concepts has been spective is deconstructed into aesthetic impression, established, for the results based on big data must be space, technology, and culture. Among them, “aes- more objective than any individual point of view. Yet thetic impression” refers to the grasp of the integrity simultaneously, the model itself as a result of indirect of the architectural cases, including the intuitive experience immediately becomes a “target of criti- impression of the architectural appearance in the cism”: Is the result based on the literature necessarily expression of various factors; “space” refers to the correct (accuracy judgment)? Even if the results are analysis of the plan, elevation, and section of the build- generally correct, how much influence do changes in ing, as well as the relationship between the functional time, place, and society have on the accuracy of the spaces; “technology” refers to the analysis of the con- results (contemporariness judgment)? In the next struction technology, including the observation of the stage of the research, how should we raise awareness structure, materials, and manufacturing; and “culture” more comprehensively (diversity judgment)? These are refers to the exploration of the concrete or abstract all issues that need to be reflected upon in the process cultural symbols in architecture. Certainly, this shift in of testing work. As discussed above, this article will perspective is endless, but more aspects of observation 10 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH will undoubtedly lead to more objective, unbiased, than that. Through this multi-perspective intuition, and comprehensive observation results (Venturini even if the result does not overthrow the previous 2010). macroscopic dogmatic conceptions, it will still enrich the understanding of the earlier concepts due to the principle of system integrity (Wei and Zeng 2009). 4.3. The objects of intuition This kind of enrichment is not only a supplement to knowledge on the professional level, but also endows Since the models serve as a deconstruction of the the research with contemporariness. In addition, in the concepts of classic and post-modern eclectic architec- face of complex social changes, more professional par- ture, it is natural to choose from these two types of ticipation is required to maximize research benefits. architectural cases as the intuitive objects for verifica - This means that, in the table improvement process, tion. Moreover, in order to improve the accuracy of the we should always reflect upon the table form so as to testing work, this paper adopts the comparative study develop it into a more easily understood form in future method. Specifically, we select cases in pairs, each research, in order to obtain cognitive diversity. respectively from Beijing and Hong Kong, that are similar in terms of construction time, functional use, or architect, and make analogies and reflections while 4.5. Intuition study of classic eclectic architecture completing the table to add to the dimensions of (Tables A1–A4) thought. The complex social contexts of Beijing and Hong Kong also make the cases highly representative: The table test starts with a set of small-scale classic on the one hand, as the capital of China and the early eclectic cases. The Chang Guan Building is located colonial city opened up to the outside world, both northwest of Beijing Zoo – the former site of cities have a strong social basis for cultural exchanges, “Agricultural Experimental Farm” in the Qing Dynasty which makes the emergence and expression of eclecti- (Figure 5). The building is a two-story brick-wood cism universal. On the other hand, as cities respectively building constructed by Chinese craftsmen and in representative of Northern and Southern cultures, the which Baroque decoration features prominently differences in local traditional thought and ways of (Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau 2011). foreign exchange endows the comparative study with Completed in early 1908, it was initially used as a higher reference value. Finally, this article selected a temporary residence for Empress Dowager Cixi in four groups and a total of eight architecture cases for her trip to the Summer Palace. Chang Guan Building intuitive verification. The classic cases include the Old is by far the most well-preserved western-style build- Pathological Institute (Hong Kong) & Chang Guan ing in the late Qing Dynasty in Beijing and also the only Building (Beijing), the Main Building of Hong Kong royal summer house that has been preserved intact. It University & the Main Building of Land Army is worth noting that, unlike the early eclectic architec- Headquarter of the Qing Dynasty (Beijing). The post- ture in China, although the main structure of Chang modern part includes the Bank of China Tower Guan Building is brick wall bearing, the roof structure (Hong Kong) & Beijing Fragrant Hill Hotel, Hong Kong has begun to adopt the wood truss with iron sheet Heritage Museum & the Capital Museum of Beijing. Of roof. For a long time, “whether the roof structure is course, to have a comprehensive understanding of truss structure or not has been regarded as an these cases, the intuitive study includes not only the experience of the buildings themselves but also rele- vant research papers, publications, government archives, and official publicity materials. 4.4. The standard and significance of judgment After the intuition results are filled in the table, the accuracy of the model could be judged. In fact, the criterion of judgment is straightforward: if for every column in the table, especially the invariable “eclectic attributes” section, phenomenological counterparts could be found in at least one perspective of intuition, then we may consider the conceptual interpretation of the models as having practical reference value. Figure 5. Chang Guan building. However, the significance of table work is far greater According to Wei Hongsen and Zeng Guoping’s SYSTEMATICISM-The Principle of System Integrity, “the sum of the parts will inevitably greater than the whole”. JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 11 table information is critical. The indirect experience will also be re-examined from a contemporary per- spective. These phenomena also confirm the state- ment of the eclectic movement historian Walter Kidney: “Not only were the forms of historic architecture valuable through their beauty, but they came to our times freighted with historic associations that every cultured person was familiar with, and that seemed to suggest, even to demand, that a certain building, in a certain place, be built in some one of a rather restricted range style.” (Kidney 1974) In any case, it can be seen that the selection of table Figure 6. Old pathological institute. information is inevitably critical. The indirect experi- ence and the views of other scholars will also be re- examined from a contemporary perspective. important indicator of the extent to which a building is The test then chooses a group of large public build- influenced by the western architecture” (Zhang, 2008). ings as the intuition research objects for the second set From this point, it can be seen that Chinese artisans of classic eclectic architecture. The Main Building of had mastered this design and construction technology The Land Army Headquarter of the Qing Dynasty is at this time. The corresponding case to Chang Guan located at No. 3 Zhang Zi Zhong Road, Beijing Building is the Old Pathological Institute in Caine Lane, (Figure 7). The place was originally the noble school formerly known as the “Bacteriological Institute” in the late Qing Dynasty, which was rebuilt and re- (Figure 6). The building was opened in 1906, which opened as headquarter for Army Department in 1909. was the first public health and medical laboratory in The dominant style of the building is the Western Hong Kong. The institute is built mainly in the classical style, which adopts wood structure, triangular Edwardian Baroque style, containing two upper floors truss, and iron sheet roof. The facade is decorated with and one basement. Meanwhile, the arcaded verandah a large number of gray brick carvings with exquisite and the eclectic double-layer Chinese pan-and-roll patterns. Since the building was designed by the early tiled roof are important examples of the adaptation Chinese Architect (Shen Qi) and built by local crafts- of Western architecture to a subtropical climate. men, the case reflects the professional level and tech- Overall, both cases have been built with similar nical process of early Chinese architectural design and elevation composition and have both adopted construction skills, which is of great significance for Flemish gable decoration, which gave a deep overall studying the process of Chinese architectural moder- impression. In addition, the two buildings are very nization (Lai 1993). In the meantime, the Main Building similar in terms of construction time, space volume, of the University of Hong Kong is the oldest building and dominant style, making them highly comparable. on campus, which was donated by the well-known The intuition study of two cases was completed Parsi businessman and philanthropist Sir Hormusjee under the control of the table framework, including Nawrojee Mody (Figure 8). It was completed in 1912, the sorting of archives and the judgment of field dominated by Western classical style. This well- investigation. As a result, all the table’s eclectic fac- tors found their corresponding expressions (Tables A1 and A2), which indicates that the model’s accuracy is verified in this group of tests. At the same time, existing knowledge and views are criticized in the process of intuition study. For example, in some lit- erature about the Hong Kong Old Pathological Institute, the author believes that the bottled decora- tions on the building gables and roofs are abstract symbols embodying medical metaphors (Choong 1996; Ho 2020). However, with the deepening of comparative study, these ornaments have been recognized as standard practices in Baroque architec- ture and are found in Western architecture in Beijing. Therefore, in the table improvement process, these phenomena are recorded as the expression of “dec- Figure 7. The main building of the land army headquarter of orative attribute”. It can be seen that the selection of the qing dynasty building. 12 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH exist in East Asia (Fujimori 2010), and it is also determined by the difference in the social status of architects in different cultures (Su 2017). This group of intuition studies not only confirms the accuracy of the classic “Eclectic Factor Model” but also jumps out of the shackles of the surface-form research, and the understanding of the eclecticism concept is also enriched through deep attribute thinking. To be sure, this intuition framework based on attributes can grasp the essence of archi- tectural expressions more clearly and give architects diverse ways of understanding. Figure 8. The main building of the university of Hong Kong. 4.6. Intuition study of post-modern eclectic architecture (Table B1-B4) proportioned red-brick building has three stories, sup- Post-modern eclectic architecture is faced with a much ported by granite columns of the Ionic order. The case is designed symmetrically around the central axis of more complex social environment. In this paper, we the clock tower. In general, the main building features first compare the same architect’s different choices the style characteristics of Gothic, Baroque, and made when dealing with various stages of social devel- Renaissance architecture (Department of Architecture, opment. The Beijing Fragrant Hill Hotel (1982), The Hong Kong University 1999). The two cases also have similar symmetrical ele- vation compositions and construction times. Furthermore, they are both decorated in a baroque style. After a comparative study, the eclectic model’s accuracy is again verified: all the eclectic factors were reflected in the case (Tables A3 and A4). In addition, in the table work, the under- standing of eclectic architecture is further enriched. The intuition will no longer focus simply on the external architectural form within the attribute con- cept framework but will also make judgements according to eclectic factors’ expression relation- ship. For example, although there is a significant difference between the two cases in terms of the content of façade design, both are expressions of secular pursuit (Lai 1993). Therefore, these decora- Figure 9. The fragrant hill hotel. tive phenomena could be together classified as an embodiment of “(Baroque) decorative attribute”. Some scholars even used the term “Chinese Baroque” or “Chinese Renaissance” to describe such western-style buildings with Chinese character- istics (Department of Architecture, The Hong Kong University 1999). For another example, even for the expression of the same attributes, there will be differences in understanding due to different social backgrounds. As the birthplace of eclecticism, archi- tects from Western culture are used to choosing the style with social consensus to express the “elitist attribute”. While for Chinese architects, who are the recipients of foreign culture, the rare Western architecture with royal privilege itself is the embo- diment of the elitist attribute, so their designs are not limited to specific styles. To a certain extent, it Figure 10. The bank of China tower (HK). explains why so much “Fantasy Style” architecture JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 13 (Figure 9) and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong (1990), (Figure 10) are two representative works of architect I.M. Pei. The former is the first large-scale public building designed by a foreign architect since China’s reform and opening up policy (Li and Jia 2019; Gu 1983), whereas the latter is a symbolic landmark building before Hong Kong’s return to China. Both have received significant attention and extensive discussion since their completion. From the results of this intuition study, both cases respond to the post-modern eclectic factor model’s attributes, which give positive conclusions about the accuracy of the model (Tables B1 and B2). Figure 12. The Capital Museum of Beijing. As in the aforementioned intuition studies, existing pre- judices are pointed out in the table work process. Pei’s fame and prestige influence many scholars and cause them to believe that Fragrant Hill Hotel is a highly covering collections in the field of history, art, and abstract expression. However, with the table work, we culture (Figure 11). The museum was officially opened find that most of the design details represent concrete in 2000. The building adopts the traditional Chinese “Si historical or decorative attributes rather than abstract He Yuan” layout, with 12 exhibition halls, a 400-person ones. For example, the water-maze sight furniture at the theater, and other multi-functional spaces. With an center of the courtyard is not a metaphor for Yunnan exhibition area of 7500 square meters, it has become historic sites (Jiang 2013), but a concrete copy of the the largest museum in Hong Kong. The Capital Museum of Beijing is located at Fu Xing Men Street, “Cup-floating Pavilion” which could be found at Prince an extended line of Chang An Avenue which traverses Gong’s Mansion in Beijing (Liu and Lu 2016). Moreover, the center of the Capital, including the Forbidden City the details of doors and windows are also concrete and Tian An Men Square (Figure 12). The project is references to “Suzhou Garden” decorations. These phe- a comprehensive museum with cash facilities. It nomena show that the architect considered the accep- includes three main blocks covered by a vast rectan- tance of modern architecture by Chinese people at the gular horizontal roof and retreats a certain distance time, and the Hotel could be regarded as a connecting from the street to vacate a public square facing the work. In the Bank of China Tower design in Hong Kong, city. The most prominent block (used as a permanent I.M. Pei, considering the historical and cultural back- exhibition of precious historical relics) is shaped like ground of Hong Kong as an early opened-up city, a bronze-made cultural relic. In 2009, the museum was chose more abstract and radical design methods. selected as one of “The Best Ten Modern Architectures The last group of intuition test concern two cultural in Beijing” (BIAD 2010). buildings: the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (2000) and Both cases have similar functional orientation and the Capital Museum of Beijing (2005). The former, exhibition content, and both are inspired by traditional located in the center of Shatin, New Territories, Chinese architecture. However, their expressions are Hong Kong, is a comprehensive museum managed quite different. Perhaps influenced by the sentiment by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, of Hong Kong people in search of their roots (Xue 2005, 2015), the Hong Kong Heritage Museum used a very concrete Chinese style roof, columns, and win- dow patterns. This straightforward expression can only be attributed to one of historical and decorative attri- butes. Although all the eclectic attributes prove to have corresponding phenomena, this simple style of expression makes it difficult to regard the museum as a mature piece of post-modern eclectic architecture. (Table B3) In contrast, the design of Capital Museum is much more mature. Although the designer also used historical elements such as Chinese style roof and bronze ware for reference, it was presented in a very abstract way. Other concrete historical elements, such as grey bricks and archways, exist as the expression of decorative attribute. With this sense of conflict and Figure 11. The Hong Kong heritage museum. 14 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH heterogeneity, all the post-modern eclectic factors are understanding of architecture’s (eclectic) attribute when fully expressed (Table B4). In conclusion, the accuracy intuiting cases. The original source of architectural attri- bute is people’s basic emotions rather than standardized of the model is verified again. architectural symbols, which means that a consensus In general, all the cases above have proved the beyond each other’s context can be reached at the level accuracy of controversy mapping. With the judgment of attribute discussion. On the other side, in the phenom- and reflection made in the table work process, the enon’s intuition, we should fully integrate the observa- concept of eclecticism is also given a contemporary tion and reflection on differences as much as possible. interpretation. At the same time, in the process of Returning to the cartography method itself, the purpose intuition study, it is found that the larger proportion of controversy mapping is to “offers suggestions rather a factor constitutes in the model, the easier it is to than imposing itself on the reader” (Latour, B 2007). Its observe a corresponding phenomenon. This suggests core is to draw “as many consequences as possible” that the weight relationship expressed by the model through “a shift in perspective” (Latour, B 2007). also has a specific reference value. Of course, this Researchers need to reconcile with the differences of judgment needs to be supported by more cases in expression rather than opposing them, and to intuit the future studies. essence (attribute) of phenomena rather than the surface. 4.7. Reflection 5. Conclusion The table’s intuition works has reflected some phenom- From concept interpretation to interdisciplinary ena that need researchers’ attention, such as the differ - integration ences in modes of thinking: since the literature data for this controversy mapping are eclectic architecture papers written in English, they inevitably carry a tendency 5.1. Interpretation of the concept of eclecticism towards Western thinking and understanding. When we use the models and tables based on these data to analyze After the discussion in this paper, the architectural China’s eclectic architecture, even to the same attribute’s concept of “Eclecticism” was finally interpreted and expression, there will present various phenomena due to demonstrated clearly: it is a design concept that different cultural contexts and development stages. includes the essential attributes of pluralism, histori- This paper holds that this difference in expression is city, decoration, innovation, elitism, and symbolism. In also the inevitable result of the complexity of architec- addition to these basic attributes, due to time and tural practice. Therefore, both the East and the West regional influences, there are often expressions of show a similar phenomenon. “The architect depended other various factors, which require more intuitive of course on the help of other artists, and on a host of cases in the future to enrich the understanding of craftsmen and suppliers who could meet or anticipate their expression content and tendency. We achieved his wishes” (Kidney 1974). In the early stage of eclecti- the above conclusion through the quantitative transla- cism, craftsmen gave full play to their wisdom. In the tion of literature data (model work) and architectural United States, “A good plasterer could trowel in a half- cases’ intuitive study (table work). It can be seen as dozen ways to give the proper textural effects for each a practice of controversy mapping in the study of style” (Kidney 1974). Meanwhile, in China, a brick carver architectural attribute and concept redefinition. replaced the religious symbols of Western-style build- ings with “Mei Lan Zhu Ju” (plum blossoms, orchid, 5.2. Reflection on the cartography of bamboo, and chrysanthemum), which enabled them controversies to be more readily accepted by local people. This coop- eration mechanism has further contributed to the diver- From this practice, we can clearly see the advantages sity of results. Moreover, from the heyday of eclecticism of this ANT based cartography methodology in the to the popularity of postmodern architecture, the eclec- interpretation of ambiguous concepts, that is: (1) The ticists have regarded themselves as “a participant in, or accuracy of attribute deconstruction; (2) The contem- an heir to, a reform movement” (Kidney 1974). They no porariness of intuitive judgments; and (3) The diversity longer meet the standard decorative patterns and fixed of interpretation routes. These advantages provide scale and proportion. On the contrary, they “felt free to architects with a reliable reference in interpreting phe- introduce variations of his own”, replacing “authentic” nomena and accumulating inspiration, while building materials with new materials, and even risking trying a dialogue platform between human needs and spatial “non-historic” architectural styles (Kidney 1974). expression through the emphasis of attribute intuition. In response to these differences and complexities, this Meanwhile, we have also found the limitations of this study first emphasizes absorbing the views of more dis- controversy analysis through the practice: the result’s ciplines through the cartography of controversies. More accuracy will be significantly affected by the data importantly, researchers should have a deeper sources, data quantity, and researchers’ judgment. In JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 15 response, of course, we could be optimistic about the earned her doctorate with honors at the University of Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense in France and earlier degrees fast-developing artificial intelligence technology such from the National Institute of Applied Science (INSA) and as semantic analysis and big data algorithms. On the National Higher School of Architecture (ENSA) in other hand, we may begin to reflect on the necessity Strasbourg, France. She has worked on several research pro- for architects to complete all the models and tables. jects realized at an international level and supported by Social progress is reflected in professional specializa- public and private competitive grants. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture and tion. It is not hard to imagine that if artists, historians, Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong. Her research scientists, and even the public could participate in the interests include South-eastern Asian architecture and urban process of concept interpretation through the design, Human-friendly design, Socially responsible design, improvement of models and tables, there is no doubt User experience & design, Culture & Design, Space produc- that more comprehensive, objective, and diverse tion, Technology in design, Design education development, results will be obtained. As Bruno said, “To have trans- and methodology. formed the social from what was a surface, a territory, a province of reality, into a circulation, is what I think References has been the most useful contribution of ANT” (Latour, Beijing Museum Construction Project Owner’s Committee. B 1999). 2004. 首都博物馆新馆建筑设计征集方案集 [A Collection of Architectural Design Schemes for the New Hall of Beijing Museum]. Beijing, China: China Architecture & Building Press. 5.3. More possibilities in the future practice Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau. 2011. 近代建筑 [Modern Architecture]. Beijing, China: Beijing Arts and An Actor-Network Theory (ANT) study starts from Photography Publishing House. a controversy, and its original intention is to enrich Boehm, G. V. 2004. 贝聿铭谈贝聿铭 [Conversations with I. M. the explanation of existing phenomena. But it can be Pei]. Shanghai, China: Wen Hui Press. predicted that if we apply this method to the decision- BIAD. 2010. 中国博物馆建筑 [Museum Buildings in China]. making process of creative practice, these intuitive and Tianjin, China: Tianjin University Press. Browning, G., A. Halcli, and F. Webster, Eds. 2000. visual models will play the role of “attribute inter- Understanding Contemporary Society: Theories of the preter”. It means that, not only the architects in the Present. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. 9780761959267. professional field could more clearly and intuitively doi:10.4135/9781446218310. connect with the actors who affect the environment, Canclini, N. G. 2014. Art beyond Itself: Anthropology for a Society but the experts in other fields will also become the without a Story Line. Durham: Duke University Press. actors who participate in the creation process. It is the Carpo, M. 2005. “Architecture: Theory, Interdisciplinarity, and deconstruction of architects’ task and the integration Methodological Eclecticism.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 64 (4): 425–427. doi:10.2307/25068195. of disciplines. More importantly, it is a scientific and Carroll, L. V. M. 1953. “Creative Eclecticism.” Journal of the democratic response to the complexity of contempor- Society of Architectural Historians 12 (4): 15–18. ary society. The actors will stand ahead of architecture. doi:10.2307/987646. Choong, Y. L. 1996. The Museum of Medical Sciences Building – Architectural Features and Curiosities of a Historic Building. Disclosure statement Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Grand Opening Commemorative Publication. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the Danto, A. C., and L. Goehr. 1997. After the End of Art: author(s). Contemporary Art and the Pale of History (Vol. 197). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Department of Architecture, The Hong Kong University. Notes on contributors 1999. 香港大学建筑系测绘图集 [Measured Drawings: Volume Two]. Beijing, China: China Planning Press. Kaiyu Cheng received his Master's degree in Architecture Fujimori, T. 2010. 日本近代建筑 [Japanese Modern Architecture]. from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). He Jinan, China: Shandong People’s Publishing House Co. has worked on several national-level research & design pro- Gu, M. C. 1983. “北京香山饭店建筑设计座谈会 [Discussions jects and international competitions. He is currently working on Xiangshan Hotel].” 建筑学报 83 (3): 57–64. toward his Ph.D. degree with the University of Chinese Hansen, L. H.rapport nr. 2001. The Division of Labour in post- Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and the City University of industrial Societies. Gothenburg: Göteborg studies in Hong Kong (CityU). His research interests include architec- sociology 5. tural design and theory, technology in design, and eclectic Heidegger, M. 2013. 10. Sein und Zeit. Anthologie der realis- architecture. tischen Phänomenologie, 195–208. Berlin, Boston: De Doctor Paulina Neisch explores architecture and urban Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110329414.195. design through practice, research, and publication. She is a Hintikka, J. 2003. “The Notion of Intuition in Husserl.” Revue qualified architect (M.Arch., M.Sc., Professional License, sev- Internationale de Philosophie (2) (2): 57–79. doi:10.3917/ eral years of architectural practice) and educator (several rip.224.0057. years of teaching experience at graduate and postgraduate Ho, F. C. 2020. The Silent Protector - Hong Kong’s Bacteriological levels in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East) with the multi- Institute, Its History and Legacy. Hong Kong, China: disciplinary approach to research, teaching and design. She Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society. 16 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Howell, R. J. 2007. “The Knowledge Argument and Su, S. W. 2017. 晚清以降 : 西力冲击下的社会变迁 [After Objectivity.” Philosophical Studies 135 (2): 145–177. the Late Qing Dynasty: Social Changes Under the doi:10.1007/s11098-007-9077-0. Impact of Western Forces]. Beijing, China: Commercial Huang, J. M. 2019. 贝聿铭建筑十讲 [I.M. Pei’s Ten Lectures Press. on Architecture]. Nanjing, China: Phoenix Science Press. Van Eck, N. J., and L. Waltman. 2010. “Software Survey: Husserl, E. 2016. 现象学的观念 [The Idea of Phenomenology]. VOSviewer, a Computer Program for Bibliometric Beijing, China: Commercial Press. Mapping.” scientometrics 84 (2): 523–538. doi:10.1007/ Jencks, C. A. 1978. “The Language of post-modern s11192-009-0146-3. Architecture.” Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 37: 2. Van Eck, N. J., and L. Waltman. 2017. “Citation-based Jiang, L. 2013. “中国传统建筑语言在当代 —香山饭店研究综 Clustering of Publications Using CitNetExplorer and 述 [The Modernization of Chinese Traditional VOSviewer.” Scientometrics 111 (2): 1053–1070. Architecture – Research Summary of Papers on Fragrant doi:10.1007/s11192-017-2300-7. Hill Hotel].” 设计 , no. 11: 85–86. Van Eck, N. J., and L. Waltman. 2020. “VOSviewer Manual. Kazhar, N. 2016. “Lessons of History and Search for “New Global Leiden: Univeristeit Leiden.“ https://www.vosviewer.com/ Style” in Architecture.” Architecture and Engineering 1 (1): documentation/Manual_VOSviewer_1.6.15.pdf 19–25. doi:10.23968/2500-0055-2016-1-1-19-25. Venturini, T. 2010. “Diving in Magma: How to Explore Kidney, W. C. 1974. The Architecture of Choice. New York: Controversies with actor-network Theory.” Public Eclecticism in America, 1880-1930. G. Braziller. Understanding of Science 19 (3): 258–273. doi:10.1177/ Lai, D. L. 1993. 实测报告 2: 清末陆军部南楼 . 中国近代建筑总 0963662509102694. 览 ·北京篇 [The Architecture Heritage of Modern China: Venturini, T. 2012. “Building on Faults: How to Represent Beijing], 39–56. Beijing, China: China Architecture Controversies with Digital Methods.” Public Publishing & Media Co. Understanding of Science 21 (7): 796–812. doi:10.1177/ Latour, B . 1996. “On Actor-Network Theory: A Few 0963662510387558. Clarifications.” Soziale welt 47 (4): 369–381. Vivant, E. 2018. “Experiencing research-creation in Urban Latour, B . 2007. Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Studies.” Lessons from an Inquiry on the Making of Public Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Space. Cities 77: 60–66. 9780199256051. Von Bertalanffy, L. 1987. 一般系统论 [General System Theory]. Latour, B. 1999. “On Recalling ANT.” The Sociological Review Beijing, China: Social Sciences Academic Press. 47 (1_suppl): 15–25. doi:10.1111/j.1467-954X.1999.tb03480.x. Wang, T. X. 1994. 贝聿铭 [Ieoh Ming Pei]. Beijing, China: Law, J., and J. Hassard. 1999. Actor Network Theory and after. China Architecture & Building Press. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell. Wei, H. S., and G. P. Zeng. 2009. 系统论 : 系统科学哲学 Li, J., and D. T. Jia. 2019. 百年贝聿铭 [I.M. Pei]. Beijing, China: [SYSTEMATICISM]. Beijing, China: Beijing World Publishing Joint Publishing Company. Corporation. Liu, L. A., and X. Lu. 2016. 北京王府建筑 [Prince’s Residence in Wissink, B. 2013. “Enclave Urbanism in Mumbai: An Beijing]. Beijing, China: China Architecture Publishing & actor-network-theory Analysis of Urban (Dis) Media Co. Connection.” Geoforum 47: 1–11. doi:10.1016/j. Marres, N. 2015. “Why Map Issues? On Controversy Analysis geoforum.2013.02.009. as a Digital Method. Science.” Technology, & Human Values Xue, C. Q. 2005. Building a Revolution: Chinese Architecture 40 (5): 655–686. doi:10.1177/0162243915574602. since 1980 (Vol. 1). Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Sheppard, A. 2006. Some Thoughts on Canadian and University Press . American Eclecticism in Public Architecture. Montreal: Xue, C. Q. 2015. — 1946-2011 [Contextualizing McGill University, 1000–1036. Modernity: Hong Kong Architecture 1946-2011]. Hong Kong, Steen, A. P. 2015. “Radical Eclecticism and Post-Modern China: Commercial Press (HK). Architecture. Fabrications: The Journal of the Society of Zhang, F. H. 2008. 图说北京近代建筑史 [History of Beijing Architectural Historians.” Australia and New Zealand 25 (1): Architecture in Modern Period]. Beijing, China: Tsinghua 130–145. University Press. 香港建筑 城境 JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 17 Zhang, X. L. 2010. 现象学导论七讲 : 从原著阐发原意 [The Appendix Introduction of Phenomenology: Expounding the Original Table A1. Idea from the Original Work]. Beijing, China: China Renmin University Press. Table A2. 18 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Table A3. Table A4. JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 19 Table B1. Table B2. 20 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Table B3. Table B4. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering Taylor & Francis

A new perspective on eclectic attributes in architecture: taking eclectic architecture in Beijing and Hong Kong as an example

Download PDF
20 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/taylor-francis/a-new-perspective-on-eclectic-attributes-in-architecture-taking-VqOekZGOnL

References (47)

Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Architectural Institute of Japan, Architectural Institute of Korea and Architectural Society of China.
ISSN
1347-2852
eISSN
1346-7581
DOI
10.1080/13467581.2022.2074017
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING https://doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2022.2074017 A new perspective on eclectic attributes in architecture: taking eclectic architecture in Beijing and Hong Kong as an example a,b b Kaiyu Cheng and Paulina Neisch a b Center of Architecture Research and Design, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing China; Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong (Cityu), Hong Kong China ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Received 4 June 2021 The development of society enriches the connotation of various professional concepts and Accepted 2 May 2022 leads to ambiguity in their interpretation. With the increasing comprehensiveness of human exchange activities, this uncertainty has become a common phenomenon present in multiple KEYWORDS fields. In the field of architecture, the long-standing over-emphasis on imaginative and instinc- Architectural attribute; tive creation has led to a tendency to rely on the judgment based on the architect’s personal Actor-Network-Theory (ANT); experience when confronted with ambiguous concepts. Besides, the “black box” in the profes- cartography of controversies; sional field has made it difficult for other professions and the public to reasonably express their eclecticism; intuition demands. “Eclecticism” is such a divisive architectural concept that has emerged from cultural exchange. This paper aims to develop a modeling tool that could grasp complex concepts in a clear and comprehensive way. The study constructs the “Eclectic Attribute Models” as a visual translation by using the Cartography of Controversies based on Actor-Network-Theory (ANT). Then tested and enriched models by intuition studies. As a result, this research clarifies the contemporary interpretation of eclecticism: a design concept encompassing the essential attributes of Pluralism, Historicity, Elitism, Decoration, Innovation, and Symbolism. Finally, this paper also discusses the advantages, limitations, and prospects of controversy mapping in future interdisciplinary research practice. 1. Introduction multi-perspective interpretations make it difficult to In the era of globalization, society is changing more have a comprehensive and intuitive grasp of complex rapidly than ever. In addition to the constant emergence concepts. Not only does this lead to bias and of new ideas and terminology, people seem to be less controversy in the discussion within the profession, certain about previously agreed-upon concepts. While but also reduces the efficiency of interdisciplinary coop- the abundance of meanings is a manifestation of social eration. Such is the case with the concept of diversity of this age, repetitive, cross-disciplinary, and “Eclecticism ” in architecture: it is traditionally believed CONTACT Kaiyu Cheng kcheng224-c@my.cityu.edu.hk Center of Architecture Research and Design, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article As a general term of social science study, “controversy” means complicated and uncertain phenomena to be observed in collective life. In Venturini’s documentation, controversies are defined as such: “The word ‘controversy’ refers here to every bit of science and technology which is not yet stabilized, closed or ‘black boxed’ . . . we use it as a general term to describe shared uncertainty.” (Wissink 2013; Venturini 2010) In this paper, we define the controversy as an “in-progress” definition of phenomena that are under constant reconsideration. In Carroll Meeks’ article “Creative Eclecticism”, the author contends that eclecticism is an “almost universal phenomenon generally occurring as a transition between periods of more vigorous activity in the arts and in philosophy”. Meanwhile, it is “not limited to one or two exceptional periods”, and it’s “meaning and the value placed upon it have shifted often” (Carroll, 1953). © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Architectural Institute of Japan, Architectural Institute of Korea and Architectural Society of China. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 2 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH to be simply a classical revivalist architectural style that with such change and dislocation, the most urgent has died out, yet another view is that eclectic architec- task is to make the controversy clearly and completely ture has evolved over time into postmodernist architec- “visible”; that is, to construct an intuitive platform that ture. The study of eclecticism should focus not only on allows different views in the professional field to be the external stylistic forms, but more importantly, on the noticed. internal attributes that allowed it to exist and evolve. Therefore, we introduce the cartography of controver- 1.2. The complexity of interdisciplinary sies as a method to excavate and visually translate the collaboration concept of “Eclecticism” in architecture and achieves a contemporary interpretation of complex ideas Another impact of social development is the “interdis- through the construction of architectural attribute ciplinary collaboration”. We are in the midst of a global, model. interdisciplinary, and transmedia transformation (Canclini 2014). In this context, each product is itself dependent upon other professions. Similarly, the con- 1.1. The ambiguity of concepts tinuous development and subdivision of science and technology has made it difficult for many studies to The development of society has brought about “varia- achieve substantial breakthroughs without help from bility of explanation” (Browning, Halcli, and Webster other disciplines (Hansen 2001). In addition, the wide- 2000). In a society with relatively simple relationships, spread application of information technology has also it is easier for people to reach a clear consensus on the made it easy to express arrogant opinions upon topics meaning of concepts. However, since the Industrial in any professional field. However, for issues that are Revolution, life, work, and society itself have gone divisive within the profession, suggestions from other through unceasing, dramatic change. This develop- fields often make the controversy even murkier. ment process has caused each generation to base Therefore, it is necessary to develop an open research their concepts on vastly different conditions (Hansen method to make the controversial issues not only 2001), and the originally simple ideas are constantly “visible” within the discipline but also “readable” across given new meanings and explanations. Just as “mod- disciplines. As a result, researchers from various fields ern” has begun to represent a style or even a period, in will be able to collaborate through this platform. In the many cases, the word “contemporary” means more future, it could even be developed into a “democratic than “the present moment”; the connotations of enterprise” (Venturini 2010), allowing the public to these terms have been enriched as society evolves participate effectively in the discussion of professional (Danto and Goehr 1997). Nowadays, it is difficult for issues. Since both the ambiguity in the interpretation us to find stable technical terms and secure theoretical of concepts and the complexity of interdisciplinary frameworks to explain every on-going phenomenon in cooperation are mainly caused by social change, we the midst of such changes (Browning, Halcli, and hope to study the controversial phenomenon by Webster 2000). More often than not, this variability of a social science method. Because “sociology is always explanation leads to ambiguity rather than consensus: about social change” (Hansen 2001). in social science, the word “controversy” is usually used as a generic term to describe such uncertainty (Wissink 2013; Venturini 2010). Broadly speaking, anything 1.3. Cartography of controversies between “not being able to ignore each other” and “trying to reach consensus” can be called a controversy “Cartography of Controversies” (also known as (Venturini 2010). Unfortunately, people devote only “Controversy Analysis” or “Controversy Mapping”) is a limited amount of time to controversies (Venturini an effective social science research tool to analyze 2012). Perhaps it is because they are too focused on controversies. Broadly speaking, “the cartography of their own fighting to pay attention to other ambiguous controversies is a set of techniques to explore and issues. Or maybe they are simply obsessed with famil- visualize issues” (Venturini 2010). This method was iar theories, bound by tradition, habit, prejudice, or introduced by Bruno Latour as a teaching practice of even sheer laziness (Hansen 2001)? In any case, faced the Actor-Network Theory (ANT). ANT claims that, In Browning, Halcli, and Webster’s publication “Understanding contemporary society: Theories of the present”, they believe “the large-scale migration of peoples, communication of information and images, and the rapid movement of materials around the globe have combined to bring into question relatively fixed notions of culture . . . Amidst this change and dislocation, it is often difficult nowadays to identify dominant theoretical traditions in fiercely contested intellectual realms”. Moreover, with the social change, “that it seems impossible to fix analysis and explanation in any stable set of terms”. In Hansen’s book “The Division of Labour in post-industrial Societies”, the author believes that social science has always been the backbone of social change study: “In one way or the other, sociology has always been preoccupied with social change . . . During its history sociology has shifted its primary attention between change and stability . . . I believe, to contend that during this time-span a major interest for sociologists has been to study what is changing in society and why.” JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 3 “modern societies cannot be described without recog- Africa and Latin America due to the colonial activity of nizing them as having a fibrous, thread-like, wiry, western countries. Cultural exchange is considered to stringy, ropy, capillary character” (Latour, B 1996). In be the main factor in the emergence of eclectic archi- this regard, Bruno extended the concept of “actor ” tecture. For a very long time, there was no disagree- from human groups to “non-human” and even “non- ment about this interpretation. Hence, the task of an individual entities”, thus “accounting for the very architect was relatively simple, which was to “learn the essence of societies and natures” (Latour, B 1996). rules and forms of classical architecture” (Carpo 2005), With the continuous contribution of large research and “search for the style representative of the epoch” and teaching groups, it gradually evolved into a full- (Kazhar 2016). In fact, many architects today still regard fledged research method (Venturini 2012). “Eclecticism” as a discussion on style or form. Controversies mapping can be seen as an “educational version” of Actor-Network Theory (Law and Hassard 1.4.2. Eclecticism from a post-modern perspective 1999), which retains the core concept of ANT while Proceeding into the 20th century, the development of avoiding the conceptual complexity and is therefore science and technology brought about modernism easily understood and used by researchers. Nowadays, and avant-garde movements. Meanwhile, cultural the development of technology has enriched the exchange that had become more profound and means of controversy analysis. Although there are diverse disrupted the long-standing classical order great differences between various approaches, they (Canclini 2014). Classic eclecticists were also criticized are all enabled by digital technologies, and are focused for their “willful resignation of originality”, who only on the capture, analysis, and visualization (often based “[practiced] architecture as an art” (Kidney 1974). on the Internet and big data) to render legible context Similarly, eclectic architecture had gradually lost its (Marres 2015). As Bruno said, the so-called “network” is academic status since the 1930s and was condemned “an actor whose definition of the world outlines, traces, by intellectuals as a “bad habit that needs breaking”. delineates, describes, files, lists, records, marks or tags Even so, Kidney claimed that “eclecticism is not dead” a trajectory . . . A network is not a thing, but the (Kidney 1974). During this period, one of the most recorded movement of a thing” (Latour, B 1996). representative point of view comes from Charles When the network is demonstrated visually, the con- Jenks. In his book “The Language of Post-modern troversy is manifested accordingly, which is the pre- Architecture” (Jencks 1978), he called post-modern mise of opening a discussion. Therefore, the purpose architecture “Radical Eclecticism”, regarding it as the of this study is to translate the concept of eclecticism transformation and continuation of classic eclectic visually through the practice of controversy mapping. architecture (Jencks 1978; Steen 2015). Although these discussions on post-modern eclectic architecture still focused on the abstract, stylistic level due to the 1.4. Eclecticism: an architectural controversy constraints of the time, in any case, the controversy As in other professional fields, the classical concepts in about the concept of eclecticism has emerged since architecture are constantly being enriched with the then, and the eclectic architecture needs to have “a development of society, and “Eclecticism” is one of new look” (Kidney 1974). the more representative examples. Interpretations given at different times have rendered the meaning 1.4.3. Eclecticism from a contemporary perspective of eclecticism increasingly ambiguous. Therefore, In the contemporary era, the visual nature of architec- before interpreting the phenomenon and expressing ture and art is gradually disappearing. Eclecticism is the ideas, we should first clarify the contemporary accordingly expressed in a recessive way: architects no meaning of eclecticism. longer select concrete materials from classical forms (Classic Eclectic Architecture) or abstract them into 1.4.1. Eclecticism from a traditional perspective a collage of cultural symbols (Post-modern Eclectic A traditional view is that, as an architectural style, Architecture). Instead, they attempt to express emotions “Eclecticism” refers to the combination of multifarious directly through the language of space. This evolution (mainly Western classical) styles, which was popular in of architectural expression has led many researchers to Europe and the United States from the 19th to the believe that eclectic architecture has already “died early 20th century, and which spread widely in Asia, a natural death” (Sheppard 2006). However, the shift In Bruno’s article “On actor-network theory: A few clarifications ”, the author made a clear definition: “An ‘actor’ in ANT is a semiotic definition – an actant -, that is something that acts or to which activity is granted by others . . . An actant can literally be anything provided it is granted to be the source of an action” (Latour, B 1996). More than that, in Andrew Steen’s work “Radical Eclecticism and Post-Modern Architecture”, it shows that “According to Architectural Design editor Haig Beck, the working title of Charles Jencks’ The Language of Post-Modern Architecture . . . was ‘Radical Eclecticism’”. To this day, still many scholars only regard eclectic architecture as a collage style. In Sheppard’s documentation, “It (eclectic architecture) died a natural death with the advent of Modernism and the shift from conservative architectural thinking of the Beaux Arts to the more socially progressive movement in Europe and America” (Sheppard 2006). 4 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH in the way of expression from explicit to implicit does results through intuitive study. In the end of the paper, not mean the end of eclecticism. Today’s more compre- we conclude the contemporary interpretation of the hensive cultural exchanges ensure the persistence of concept of eclecticism. As a reflection, we also discuss various eclectic factors. In this paper, we define the the potential of this newly developed redefinition tool factors which are not affected by temporal and spatial in interdisciplinary integration. changes as “eclectic attributes”. On the one hand, these attributes exist as a medium between human needs and 2. Research methodology the expression of architectural space, and on the other hand, the investigation and translation of these attri- 2.1. Theoretical background: from ANT to butes through controversy mapping are crucial for cartography of controversies interpreting the ambiguous concept of eclecticism. The cartography method used in this article is With the visualization of attributes, we shall get a practical approach to Bruno Latour’s “Actor-Network- a comprehensive and intuitive grasp of the concept of Theory” (ANT). It is not only a method of observing eclecticism. things but also a mindset to systematically understand and deconstruct complex social phenomena. Although Bruno himself summarized ANT simply as “just look at 1.5. Research objects controversies and tell what you see” (Venturini 2010; In this light, the research objective of this paper was to Wissink, 2013), both “look” (observation) and “tell” analyze the complex controversy regarding the con- (description) have highly profound connotations. cept of eclecticism in architecture and develop an In terms of observation, the method adopts an innovative methodological tool that allows its redefini - attitude that is largely phenomenological. Bruno tion. In order to do so, the following discussion will be claimed, using a slogan from ANT, that the researcher divided into three parts: research methodology, visual must abandon preconceived bias and “[suspend] the expression, and intuitive judgment. In the next chap- common-sense hypothesis”. Meanwhile, it also ter, we will first introduce the research methodology. requires the researcher to respect their object of obser- Specifically, it includes the theoretical background and vation (whether human or phenomenon) and “follow operation steps of controversy mapping. As an open the actors themselves” honestly (Latour, B 2007). On research method, the cartography of controversy is this basis, it does not require the use of any specific capable of utilizing various precision tools to decon- observation approach. On the contrary, Actor-Network struct and translate controversies. Here, our study is -Theory suggests that researchers should remain open realized through the combination of bibliometric map- to different ideas as much as possible, and use all ping and table intuition. In the chapter after that, we search, observation, and mapping tools at hand, sepa- will explain the process of visual expression, in which rately and combined, so as to truly restore the “highest we operate with bibliometric mapping to successfully complexity” (Venturini 2010). This is because in the complete the visual translation from the literature data visualization stage of research, the first priority is to of eclectic architecture. As a result, the previously grasp the context of the controversy rather than to end ambiguous concept of eclecticism is intuitively the argument. As Bruno said, “I have often compared it expressed by the factor & attribute model. In the fourth to perspective drawing . . . ANT does not tell anyone chapter, we will discuss the intuitive judgment. With the shape that is to be drawn . . . but only how to go the help of tables as observation tools, the result above about systematically recording the world-building abil- and the proposed new methodological tool will be ities of the sites to be documented and registered” tested by the intuitive case studies of eclectic architec- (Latour, B 1999). ture in Beijing and Hong Kong. Through this intuition In terms of description, ANT emphasizes that the process, the accuracy and contemporariness of the complexity of controversies should be reflected and research shall be guaranteed. In short, it is a research made visible through its division into multiple levels, process that moves from methodology discussion to which manifests the research characteristics of system- research practice, and then to the verification of the atology thinking. Tommaso Venturini once divided The “intuition” introduced in this paper is the concept in Edmund Husserl’s phenomenology, it includes not only physical perception (observation) but also imagination and reflection (Zhang 2010; Husserl 2016). To grasp the essence, the intuition needs to be “filled” by the direct apprehension of the object, In Hintikka’s documentation: “First, there first of all are the objects of empirical intuition, prominently including the objects given to me in perception . . . Secondly, there are in Husserl intuitions provided by reflection on internal observation.” (Hintikka 2003) Bruno Latour has repeatedly emphasized the methodological attribute of ANT rather than the theoretical concept: “It was never a theory of what the social is made of” (Latour, B 1999). In “On recalling ANT” he claimed that “It (ANT) tries to refocus the originality of what is more a method to deploy the actor’s own world building activities than an alternative social theory” (Latour, B 1999). In the book “Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor- network-theory” published later on, the author even said that he had planned to give up “ANT” as a label for it is “so awkward, so confusing, so meaningless”, and to use a more “elaborate one” like “sociology of translation” or “sociology of innovation” (Latour, B 2007). Although Bruno Latour himself did not explain whether the ANT is affected by phenomenology, the “suspending the common-sense hypothesis” and “[following] the actors themselves” (Latour, B 2007) emphasized by ANT naturally remind one of the phenomenological ideas of “Epoché” (suspension) and the declaration of “Zu Den Sachen Selbst” (“facing the fact itself”, Heidegger 2013). JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 5 a complete study process of ANT into the observation be counted and quantified. A set of intuitive “bubble- and description of “statements”, “actors”, “networks”, line model” will then be generated through this auto- “cosmoses”, and “cosmopolitics” on respective levels matic or semi-automatic process. On the one hand, this (Venturini 2010). Each level (phenomenon) is both the type of model provided a complete and clear view of deconstructed factor of the higher-level and the result all the descriptive factors about the controversial issue; of the lower-level actors’ actions. The “actors” here on the other hand, its unified quantitative proportion refer either to humans/human groups, or to non- reveals the weight relationship, activity degree, and human factors such as natural elements, artworks, development trend of each factor. political institutions, technology that are endowed Since the mid-1990s, the rise of information tech- with “actor’s qualification”. Under the guidance of nology has not only digitalized our social life but has this systematic thought, the method “[allows] an also offered significant new opportunities to the prac- observer to zoom from the global to the local and tice of controversy analysis (Marres 2015). Today, the back” (Latour, B 1999). Finally, the network itself will digital instruments for the aforementioned collection, experience an extension, and the scientific phenom- analysis, and visualization of data are proliferating. enon as well as the casual relationship will be With the help of certain software, we could interpret explained (Latour, B 1996). the “opaque and complex topics” much more effec - Taking the study of this article as an example, if the tively (Marres 2015). Examples include “Vosviewer” for eclectic architectural phenomenon is regarded as literature review, Factiva for data collection, “NVivo” for a “cosmos”, then the human groups and social events content analysis, and “Edrawmax” for modeling. All that contribute to this phenomenon are the “net- these software technologies have facilitated the visua- works” in this “cosmos”, and the internal factors that lization of controversies. lead to these behaviors and events, such as human needs, become the individual “actors” on the next level below that need to be observed and described. 2.3. The judgment of tables On the other hand, because the hierarchy within the Although the establishment of the model has made ANT system is infinitely divided (Wei and Zeng 2009; the controversy clearly visible, the accuracy of the Von Bertalanffy 1987), these eclectic architectural phe- result itself still requires intuitive testing. This testing nomena, together with other architectural phenom- work should contain three aspects of significance: ena, constitute the “cosmopolitics” of social change firstly, as a criticism of indirect experience (models), it on a higher level, and our cartography work can be shall ensure the accuracy of final results; secondly, extended upwards and downwards endlessly. Hence, because researchers are always intuitively observing this research attitude “will not make your life easier” the phenomenon in a current temporal and spatial (Venturini 2010). Rather, by opening up to as many context, the process shall endow the conclusion with factors as possible, which help researchers understand contemporaneity; thirdly, the testing should be each other’s ideas, it enables one to grasp the whole designed in a form that is more open and easier to controversy, and shows that things could be explained understand, so that it allows for the participation of in different ways. a wider range of professions in the process of criticiz- ing and enriching the model, and giving diversity to the expression of concepts. Eventually, it may develop 2.2. The expression of models into an “interdisciplinary undertaking” (Marres 2015). The most intuitive way to visualize controversies is to Based on these considerations, this study chooses build a model. Since controversies always first occur to use the tabular form to test the model results. In within the professional field, academic papers can addition to the consideration of expression, the tabu- often be used as the basis and data source for visual lation process itself also means a kind of critical trans- translation, and this translation process is known as lation. The process of selecting, judging, and “bibliometric mapping” (Van Eck and Waltman 2010). transcribing the observed phenomena and data is con- This is a research method widely used in the field of ducive not only to its explanation to the audience but literary analysis and is also the beginning of the “from also to the establishment of a rational mindset (Vivant literature to actor” process in an ANT-based study 2018). Specifically, the relationship between rows and (Venturini 2010). Specifically, through the collection columns of the table can be fully utilized in the testing and analysis of keywords and citation data provided process. By taking the model results obtained in the by the literature search engine, the definition or expla- previous stage as the control of the vertical “column”, nation of ambiguous concepts in the research field will the results can provide professional guidance while The Actor-Network-Theory can be regarded as an application form of system science. According to the principle of system integrity in SYSTEMATICISM, “As the objective world is inexhaustible, there is no limitation to people’s understanding of the system level, whether in depth or in breadth” (Wei and Zeng 2009). 6 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH being criticized and enriched by intuitive study; mean- occurrence relations” between these terms (Van Eck while, the horizontal “row” of the table can be flexibly and Waltman 2017). More specifically, this digital tool adjusted according to the specific research object, could help efficiently build a “keyword map” based on which depends on the researcher’s own stratification the co-citation data between publications. In general, criterion and accuracy of the research content. In this result enables researchers to have an intuitive a word, the demonstration of cognition depends on overview of the professional fields, development the participation of intuition. Each intersection (blank) trends, and research priorities that are involved in the in the table is the combination of indirect experience controversy. (dogmatic concept) and perceptual knowledge (intui- Unfortunately, we were unable to get a valuable tion), which is the “genuine epistemic gains” that could result after we try to draw the network diagram with rise to rational knowledge (Howell 2007). the retrieval keyword of “Eclectic Architecture” (based Reviewing the above process, it seems that the car- on the search data derived from “Web of Science”, tography method has complicated the discussion of the Figure 1). On the one hand, it indicates that the controversy. But in fact, “if the cartography of contro- number of literatures on “Eclectic Architecture” (165 versies is complex, it is because collective life itself is articles) is not enough to support the software to complex” (Venturini 2010). Controversy mapping not build a complex network. This can be verified by only enables us to have a clear grasp of the ambiguous comparing the result with that generated from the concepts with its results, as a manifestation of systema- keyword of “Eclecticism” (not limited to architecture, tic thinking, its deconstruction process also makes it 1028 papers, Figure 2). On the other hand, due to the possible for each part to yield new discoveries, and complexity of factors discussed in the architectural ultimately the sum of the parts is bound to be greater field, many citation data concerning certain eras, than the whole (Venturini 2012), which allows us to place names, architects’ names, and specific case obtain a more comprehensive rational understanding. names became distracting factors to the mapping Generally speaking, the method developed in this paper work. Therefore, a semi-automatic bibliometric is a cyclical process of “model building – intuitive judg- method is necessary to enrich the results: In the case ment – critical reflection”. The details of this process will of a small number of articles, it becomes possible for be discussed in the following two chapters. researchers to read and understand individual texts. After all, the controversy analysis itself is based on the discourse analysis. 3. Visual expression 3.1. Automatic modeling test 3.2. Modeling process According to the discussion of the methodology The specific process started with using the search engine above, and in order to quickly establish an understand- of “Web of Science” to determine the source of literature ing of the concept of “Eclecticism” in architecture, this data with the keywords of “Eclectic + Architecture” (The study first attempts to use the literature analysis soft- keyword “Eclectic” will contain the search results of ware “Vosviewer” to automatically generate a visual “Eclecticism”). Then we limited the search to the period model. As a digital instrument for creating visual dia- “1978–2021” (since the controversy first appeared with grams based on network data (Van Eck and Waltman the publication of “The Language of Postmodern 2020), VOSviewer could visually display the most Architecture” in 1978) and found 160 relevant results. important terms in a literature database and the “co- Figure 1. Co-occurrence relation model of “eclectic architecture”. In Howell Robert’s study, the author argued that “despite the apparent diversity of responses to the knowledge argument, they all boil down to a response according to which genuine epistemic gains are made when an individual has an experience. I call this the acquaintance response . . . there is some epistemic gain to be achieved by actually undergoing a particular state, and that it is only by undergoing the state that such an epistemic gain can be achieved.” JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 7 Figure 2. Co-occurrence relation model of “Eclecticism”. After that, we used the “literature proportion” tool pro- authors will give an interpretation when they put for- vided by the website to exclude the literature unrelated ward a concept, and thus it is not difficult to find these to the architecture field, and 109 results were obtained. keywords. In addition, since these authors express their After downloading all the available, English literature, we own views while referring to other researchers’ views collected an eventual result of 82 academic papers, which for theoretical support, the actual data obtained on the are the “literature data” supporting the bibliometric map- definition of “eclecticism” is far larger in amount than ping in this study. So far, we have completed the first the number of literatures itself, which further increases round of literature retrieval. the accuracy of the interpretation of the concept. In the second round of retrieval work, the keyword Finally, in order to make the statistical results more search tool was used to search again for the keyword intuitive, all the keywords we got must be “merged” “eclectic” within each article. By making accurate ana- properly according to their similarity before the visua- lyses of the context of these keywords in the articles, lization operation. This is because all these techniques we could find the author’s interpretation data of the and processes are used to “make complexity readable” ambiguous concept of eclecticism, namely the key- (Venturini 2012). In other words, the observation pro- words used to define it. After this, we could classify cess should be as complex as possible and the descrip- and count them according to the two perspectives tion as simply as possible. The final data results are mentioned above (eclecticism as a classic style and then visually transcribed by the visualization software eclecticism transformed into a postmodern style). “Edrawmax” and eventually translated into a set of This process may seem complicated, but in fact, most “Eclectic Factor Models” (Figure 3). 8 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Figure 3. Eclectic factor models. 3.3. Model interpretation However, we should also realize that, although the In this set of bubble-line models, the formerly ambig- visual modeling of eclectic factors above could help us uous definition of “Eclecticism” given by previous lit- improve our understanding of the eclectic architec- erature is clearly deconstructed. Every factor is tural phenomenon, it has not established the relation- depicted as a “bubble” to the same scale, which ship between space expression and human behavior could intuitively reflect their specific weight. To be and needs. As is pointed out in the methodology dis- sure, this digitally mediated representation fills the cussion section, in order to visualize more network observation gap between macro-concepts and micro- systems and individual actors behind the controversy, factors (Venturini 2012), and allows for a dialogue the work of deconstruction needs to be continued. In between concepts from different times and places on this regard, we could still go back to the literature and the same platform. Through a comparison of the two enlarge the scope of the search. By using the author’s concept models, it is not difficult to draw a set of keywords for “the causes of the eclectic phenomenon” conclusions for the current stage: (1) The bubbles as the literature data, we could get the “Eclectic that appear in both models, as persistent factors, are Attributes – Human Needs Model” in the same way of the “eclectic attributes” derived from the big data; (2) counting and mapping (Figure 4). In this set of decon- In addition to these invariable factors, those factors struction models, human needs and space expression with obvious transformation relations demonstrate an could be connected by attributes. It provides architects evolutionary trend in the expression of eclectic attri- with an “observation checking list” to improve the butes; (3) These transformational factors, together with efficiency and accuracy of thinking in the process of the remaining unique factors, reflect the time charac- architectural design and makes the creative work more teristics of eclectic architecture. In short, through the reasonable. Of course, this process of deconstruction analysis of these literature data, we can understand the may continue to be developed: the more levels are idea of “Eclecticism” in architecture as a design con- deconstructed, and the more comprehensive the cept that includes the basic attributes of Pluralism, actors’ observation is, the more the final results of Historicity, Elitism, Decoration, Innovation, and spatial expression fit the current and even future Symbolism. It should also be noticed that the focus of space-time relationship. this concept is constantly changing with the progress It must be noted that, this concept analysis’s accu- of society. To be sure, unlike the previous one-sided racy needs to be tested before it is further translated understanding, the conceptual models above based and applied to design work. In the following discus- on data translation have a much more comprehensive sion, this study compares and tests the model’s accu- interpretation value. racy through the intuition research of specific cases of JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 9 Figure 4. Eclectic attributes – human needs model. classic and post-modern eclectic architecture, which conduct an intuitive study of several specific architec- shall provide a reliable reference for future architec- tural cases and use tables as a vehicle of intuitive tural practice. results to make judgments on the results of the model. 4. Intuitive judgment 4.2. The design of table test Take the eclectic cases of Beijing and Hong Kong as The content of the table consists of indirect experience examples (the result of the model) and subjective judgment (the result of intuition). Specifically, each column of the table corresponds to one factor in the previous “eclec- 4.1. The purpose of table test tic factor models”. As in the model, the “eclectic attri- Through the visual translation of the model, our butes”, “transformation relation factors”, and “unique research successfully unearthed and explained the factors” are also distinguished by different colors. meaning of the concept of “Eclecticism” in both classic Meanwhile, each row in the table records the intuitive and postmodern eclectic architecture. It can be argued results of the expressed factors’ phenomenon from that, with the emergence of these models, the “inter- different perspectives. In this article, the intuitive per- pretation value” of ambiguous concepts has been spective is deconstructed into aesthetic impression, established, for the results based on big data must be space, technology, and culture. Among them, “aes- more objective than any individual point of view. Yet thetic impression” refers to the grasp of the integrity simultaneously, the model itself as a result of indirect of the architectural cases, including the intuitive experience immediately becomes a “target of criti- impression of the architectural appearance in the cism”: Is the result based on the literature necessarily expression of various factors; “space” refers to the correct (accuracy judgment)? Even if the results are analysis of the plan, elevation, and section of the build- generally correct, how much influence do changes in ing, as well as the relationship between the functional time, place, and society have on the accuracy of the spaces; “technology” refers to the analysis of the con- results (contemporariness judgment)? In the next struction technology, including the observation of the stage of the research, how should we raise awareness structure, materials, and manufacturing; and “culture” more comprehensively (diversity judgment)? These are refers to the exploration of the concrete or abstract all issues that need to be reflected upon in the process cultural symbols in architecture. Certainly, this shift in of testing work. As discussed above, this article will perspective is endless, but more aspects of observation 10 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH will undoubtedly lead to more objective, unbiased, than that. Through this multi-perspective intuition, and comprehensive observation results (Venturini even if the result does not overthrow the previous 2010). macroscopic dogmatic conceptions, it will still enrich the understanding of the earlier concepts due to the principle of system integrity (Wei and Zeng 2009). 4.3. The objects of intuition This kind of enrichment is not only a supplement to knowledge on the professional level, but also endows Since the models serve as a deconstruction of the the research with contemporariness. In addition, in the concepts of classic and post-modern eclectic architec- face of complex social changes, more professional par- ture, it is natural to choose from these two types of ticipation is required to maximize research benefits. architectural cases as the intuitive objects for verifica - This means that, in the table improvement process, tion. Moreover, in order to improve the accuracy of the we should always reflect upon the table form so as to testing work, this paper adopts the comparative study develop it into a more easily understood form in future method. Specifically, we select cases in pairs, each research, in order to obtain cognitive diversity. respectively from Beijing and Hong Kong, that are similar in terms of construction time, functional use, or architect, and make analogies and reflections while 4.5. Intuition study of classic eclectic architecture completing the table to add to the dimensions of (Tables A1–A4) thought. The complex social contexts of Beijing and Hong Kong also make the cases highly representative: The table test starts with a set of small-scale classic on the one hand, as the capital of China and the early eclectic cases. The Chang Guan Building is located colonial city opened up to the outside world, both northwest of Beijing Zoo – the former site of cities have a strong social basis for cultural exchanges, “Agricultural Experimental Farm” in the Qing Dynasty which makes the emergence and expression of eclecti- (Figure 5). The building is a two-story brick-wood cism universal. On the other hand, as cities respectively building constructed by Chinese craftsmen and in representative of Northern and Southern cultures, the which Baroque decoration features prominently differences in local traditional thought and ways of (Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau 2011). foreign exchange endows the comparative study with Completed in early 1908, it was initially used as a higher reference value. Finally, this article selected a temporary residence for Empress Dowager Cixi in four groups and a total of eight architecture cases for her trip to the Summer Palace. Chang Guan Building intuitive verification. The classic cases include the Old is by far the most well-preserved western-style build- Pathological Institute (Hong Kong) & Chang Guan ing in the late Qing Dynasty in Beijing and also the only Building (Beijing), the Main Building of Hong Kong royal summer house that has been preserved intact. It University & the Main Building of Land Army is worth noting that, unlike the early eclectic architec- Headquarter of the Qing Dynasty (Beijing). The post- ture in China, although the main structure of Chang modern part includes the Bank of China Tower Guan Building is brick wall bearing, the roof structure (Hong Kong) & Beijing Fragrant Hill Hotel, Hong Kong has begun to adopt the wood truss with iron sheet Heritage Museum & the Capital Museum of Beijing. Of roof. For a long time, “whether the roof structure is course, to have a comprehensive understanding of truss structure or not has been regarded as an these cases, the intuitive study includes not only the experience of the buildings themselves but also rele- vant research papers, publications, government archives, and official publicity materials. 4.4. The standard and significance of judgment After the intuition results are filled in the table, the accuracy of the model could be judged. In fact, the criterion of judgment is straightforward: if for every column in the table, especially the invariable “eclectic attributes” section, phenomenological counterparts could be found in at least one perspective of intuition, then we may consider the conceptual interpretation of the models as having practical reference value. Figure 5. Chang Guan building. However, the significance of table work is far greater According to Wei Hongsen and Zeng Guoping’s SYSTEMATICISM-The Principle of System Integrity, “the sum of the parts will inevitably greater than the whole”. JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 11 table information is critical. The indirect experience will also be re-examined from a contemporary per- spective. These phenomena also confirm the state- ment of the eclectic movement historian Walter Kidney: “Not only were the forms of historic architecture valuable through their beauty, but they came to our times freighted with historic associations that every cultured person was familiar with, and that seemed to suggest, even to demand, that a certain building, in a certain place, be built in some one of a rather restricted range style.” (Kidney 1974) In any case, it can be seen that the selection of table Figure 6. Old pathological institute. information is inevitably critical. The indirect experi- ence and the views of other scholars will also be re- examined from a contemporary perspective. important indicator of the extent to which a building is The test then chooses a group of large public build- influenced by the western architecture” (Zhang, 2008). ings as the intuition research objects for the second set From this point, it can be seen that Chinese artisans of classic eclectic architecture. The Main Building of had mastered this design and construction technology The Land Army Headquarter of the Qing Dynasty is at this time. The corresponding case to Chang Guan located at No. 3 Zhang Zi Zhong Road, Beijing Building is the Old Pathological Institute in Caine Lane, (Figure 7). The place was originally the noble school formerly known as the “Bacteriological Institute” in the late Qing Dynasty, which was rebuilt and re- (Figure 6). The building was opened in 1906, which opened as headquarter for Army Department in 1909. was the first public health and medical laboratory in The dominant style of the building is the Western Hong Kong. The institute is built mainly in the classical style, which adopts wood structure, triangular Edwardian Baroque style, containing two upper floors truss, and iron sheet roof. The facade is decorated with and one basement. Meanwhile, the arcaded verandah a large number of gray brick carvings with exquisite and the eclectic double-layer Chinese pan-and-roll patterns. Since the building was designed by the early tiled roof are important examples of the adaptation Chinese Architect (Shen Qi) and built by local crafts- of Western architecture to a subtropical climate. men, the case reflects the professional level and tech- Overall, both cases have been built with similar nical process of early Chinese architectural design and elevation composition and have both adopted construction skills, which is of great significance for Flemish gable decoration, which gave a deep overall studying the process of Chinese architectural moder- impression. In addition, the two buildings are very nization (Lai 1993). In the meantime, the Main Building similar in terms of construction time, space volume, of the University of Hong Kong is the oldest building and dominant style, making them highly comparable. on campus, which was donated by the well-known The intuition study of two cases was completed Parsi businessman and philanthropist Sir Hormusjee under the control of the table framework, including Nawrojee Mody (Figure 8). It was completed in 1912, the sorting of archives and the judgment of field dominated by Western classical style. This well- investigation. As a result, all the table’s eclectic fac- tors found their corresponding expressions (Tables A1 and A2), which indicates that the model’s accuracy is verified in this group of tests. At the same time, existing knowledge and views are criticized in the process of intuition study. For example, in some lit- erature about the Hong Kong Old Pathological Institute, the author believes that the bottled decora- tions on the building gables and roofs are abstract symbols embodying medical metaphors (Choong 1996; Ho 2020). However, with the deepening of comparative study, these ornaments have been recognized as standard practices in Baroque architec- ture and are found in Western architecture in Beijing. Therefore, in the table improvement process, these phenomena are recorded as the expression of “dec- Figure 7. The main building of the land army headquarter of orative attribute”. It can be seen that the selection of the qing dynasty building. 12 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH exist in East Asia (Fujimori 2010), and it is also determined by the difference in the social status of architects in different cultures (Su 2017). This group of intuition studies not only confirms the accuracy of the classic “Eclectic Factor Model” but also jumps out of the shackles of the surface-form research, and the understanding of the eclecticism concept is also enriched through deep attribute thinking. To be sure, this intuition framework based on attributes can grasp the essence of archi- tectural expressions more clearly and give architects diverse ways of understanding. Figure 8. The main building of the university of Hong Kong. 4.6. Intuition study of post-modern eclectic architecture (Table B1-B4) proportioned red-brick building has three stories, sup- Post-modern eclectic architecture is faced with a much ported by granite columns of the Ionic order. The case is designed symmetrically around the central axis of more complex social environment. In this paper, we the clock tower. In general, the main building features first compare the same architect’s different choices the style characteristics of Gothic, Baroque, and made when dealing with various stages of social devel- Renaissance architecture (Department of Architecture, opment. The Beijing Fragrant Hill Hotel (1982), The Hong Kong University 1999). The two cases also have similar symmetrical ele- vation compositions and construction times. Furthermore, they are both decorated in a baroque style. After a comparative study, the eclectic model’s accuracy is again verified: all the eclectic factors were reflected in the case (Tables A3 and A4). In addition, in the table work, the under- standing of eclectic architecture is further enriched. The intuition will no longer focus simply on the external architectural form within the attribute con- cept framework but will also make judgements according to eclectic factors’ expression relation- ship. For example, although there is a significant difference between the two cases in terms of the content of façade design, both are expressions of secular pursuit (Lai 1993). Therefore, these decora- Figure 9. The fragrant hill hotel. tive phenomena could be together classified as an embodiment of “(Baroque) decorative attribute”. Some scholars even used the term “Chinese Baroque” or “Chinese Renaissance” to describe such western-style buildings with Chinese character- istics (Department of Architecture, The Hong Kong University 1999). For another example, even for the expression of the same attributes, there will be differences in understanding due to different social backgrounds. As the birthplace of eclecticism, archi- tects from Western culture are used to choosing the style with social consensus to express the “elitist attribute”. While for Chinese architects, who are the recipients of foreign culture, the rare Western architecture with royal privilege itself is the embo- diment of the elitist attribute, so their designs are not limited to specific styles. To a certain extent, it Figure 10. The bank of China tower (HK). explains why so much “Fantasy Style” architecture JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 13 (Figure 9) and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong (1990), (Figure 10) are two representative works of architect I.M. Pei. The former is the first large-scale public building designed by a foreign architect since China’s reform and opening up policy (Li and Jia 2019; Gu 1983), whereas the latter is a symbolic landmark building before Hong Kong’s return to China. Both have received significant attention and extensive discussion since their completion. From the results of this intuition study, both cases respond to the post-modern eclectic factor model’s attributes, which give positive conclusions about the accuracy of the model (Tables B1 and B2). Figure 12. The Capital Museum of Beijing. As in the aforementioned intuition studies, existing pre- judices are pointed out in the table work process. Pei’s fame and prestige influence many scholars and cause them to believe that Fragrant Hill Hotel is a highly covering collections in the field of history, art, and abstract expression. However, with the table work, we culture (Figure 11). The museum was officially opened find that most of the design details represent concrete in 2000. The building adopts the traditional Chinese “Si historical or decorative attributes rather than abstract He Yuan” layout, with 12 exhibition halls, a 400-person ones. For example, the water-maze sight furniture at the theater, and other multi-functional spaces. With an center of the courtyard is not a metaphor for Yunnan exhibition area of 7500 square meters, it has become historic sites (Jiang 2013), but a concrete copy of the the largest museum in Hong Kong. The Capital Museum of Beijing is located at Fu Xing Men Street, “Cup-floating Pavilion” which could be found at Prince an extended line of Chang An Avenue which traverses Gong’s Mansion in Beijing (Liu and Lu 2016). Moreover, the center of the Capital, including the Forbidden City the details of doors and windows are also concrete and Tian An Men Square (Figure 12). The project is references to “Suzhou Garden” decorations. These phe- a comprehensive museum with cash facilities. It nomena show that the architect considered the accep- includes three main blocks covered by a vast rectan- tance of modern architecture by Chinese people at the gular horizontal roof and retreats a certain distance time, and the Hotel could be regarded as a connecting from the street to vacate a public square facing the work. In the Bank of China Tower design in Hong Kong, city. The most prominent block (used as a permanent I.M. Pei, considering the historical and cultural back- exhibition of precious historical relics) is shaped like ground of Hong Kong as an early opened-up city, a bronze-made cultural relic. In 2009, the museum was chose more abstract and radical design methods. selected as one of “The Best Ten Modern Architectures The last group of intuition test concern two cultural in Beijing” (BIAD 2010). buildings: the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (2000) and Both cases have similar functional orientation and the Capital Museum of Beijing (2005). The former, exhibition content, and both are inspired by traditional located in the center of Shatin, New Territories, Chinese architecture. However, their expressions are Hong Kong, is a comprehensive museum managed quite different. Perhaps influenced by the sentiment by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, of Hong Kong people in search of their roots (Xue 2005, 2015), the Hong Kong Heritage Museum used a very concrete Chinese style roof, columns, and win- dow patterns. This straightforward expression can only be attributed to one of historical and decorative attri- butes. Although all the eclectic attributes prove to have corresponding phenomena, this simple style of expression makes it difficult to regard the museum as a mature piece of post-modern eclectic architecture. (Table B3) In contrast, the design of Capital Museum is much more mature. Although the designer also used historical elements such as Chinese style roof and bronze ware for reference, it was presented in a very abstract way. Other concrete historical elements, such as grey bricks and archways, exist as the expression of decorative attribute. With this sense of conflict and Figure 11. The Hong Kong heritage museum. 14 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH heterogeneity, all the post-modern eclectic factors are understanding of architecture’s (eclectic) attribute when fully expressed (Table B4). In conclusion, the accuracy intuiting cases. The original source of architectural attri- bute is people’s basic emotions rather than standardized of the model is verified again. architectural symbols, which means that a consensus In general, all the cases above have proved the beyond each other’s context can be reached at the level accuracy of controversy mapping. With the judgment of attribute discussion. On the other side, in the phenom- and reflection made in the table work process, the enon’s intuition, we should fully integrate the observa- concept of eclecticism is also given a contemporary tion and reflection on differences as much as possible. interpretation. At the same time, in the process of Returning to the cartography method itself, the purpose intuition study, it is found that the larger proportion of controversy mapping is to “offers suggestions rather a factor constitutes in the model, the easier it is to than imposing itself on the reader” (Latour, B 2007). Its observe a corresponding phenomenon. This suggests core is to draw “as many consequences as possible” that the weight relationship expressed by the model through “a shift in perspective” (Latour, B 2007). also has a specific reference value. Of course, this Researchers need to reconcile with the differences of judgment needs to be supported by more cases in expression rather than opposing them, and to intuit the future studies. essence (attribute) of phenomena rather than the surface. 4.7. Reflection 5. Conclusion The table’s intuition works has reflected some phenom- From concept interpretation to interdisciplinary ena that need researchers’ attention, such as the differ - integration ences in modes of thinking: since the literature data for this controversy mapping are eclectic architecture papers written in English, they inevitably carry a tendency 5.1. Interpretation of the concept of eclecticism towards Western thinking and understanding. When we use the models and tables based on these data to analyze After the discussion in this paper, the architectural China’s eclectic architecture, even to the same attribute’s concept of “Eclecticism” was finally interpreted and expression, there will present various phenomena due to demonstrated clearly: it is a design concept that different cultural contexts and development stages. includes the essential attributes of pluralism, histori- This paper holds that this difference in expression is city, decoration, innovation, elitism, and symbolism. In also the inevitable result of the complexity of architec- addition to these basic attributes, due to time and tural practice. Therefore, both the East and the West regional influences, there are often expressions of show a similar phenomenon. “The architect depended other various factors, which require more intuitive of course on the help of other artists, and on a host of cases in the future to enrich the understanding of craftsmen and suppliers who could meet or anticipate their expression content and tendency. We achieved his wishes” (Kidney 1974). In the early stage of eclecti- the above conclusion through the quantitative transla- cism, craftsmen gave full play to their wisdom. In the tion of literature data (model work) and architectural United States, “A good plasterer could trowel in a half- cases’ intuitive study (table work). It can be seen as dozen ways to give the proper textural effects for each a practice of controversy mapping in the study of style” (Kidney 1974). Meanwhile, in China, a brick carver architectural attribute and concept redefinition. replaced the religious symbols of Western-style build- ings with “Mei Lan Zhu Ju” (plum blossoms, orchid, 5.2. Reflection on the cartography of bamboo, and chrysanthemum), which enabled them controversies to be more readily accepted by local people. This coop- eration mechanism has further contributed to the diver- From this practice, we can clearly see the advantages sity of results. Moreover, from the heyday of eclecticism of this ANT based cartography methodology in the to the popularity of postmodern architecture, the eclec- interpretation of ambiguous concepts, that is: (1) The ticists have regarded themselves as “a participant in, or accuracy of attribute deconstruction; (2) The contem- an heir to, a reform movement” (Kidney 1974). They no porariness of intuitive judgments; and (3) The diversity longer meet the standard decorative patterns and fixed of interpretation routes. These advantages provide scale and proportion. On the contrary, they “felt free to architects with a reliable reference in interpreting phe- introduce variations of his own”, replacing “authentic” nomena and accumulating inspiration, while building materials with new materials, and even risking trying a dialogue platform between human needs and spatial “non-historic” architectural styles (Kidney 1974). expression through the emphasis of attribute intuition. In response to these differences and complexities, this Meanwhile, we have also found the limitations of this study first emphasizes absorbing the views of more dis- controversy analysis through the practice: the result’s ciplines through the cartography of controversies. More accuracy will be significantly affected by the data importantly, researchers should have a deeper sources, data quantity, and researchers’ judgment. In JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 15 response, of course, we could be optimistic about the earned her doctorate with honors at the University of Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense in France and earlier degrees fast-developing artificial intelligence technology such from the National Institute of Applied Science (INSA) and as semantic analysis and big data algorithms. On the National Higher School of Architecture (ENSA) in other hand, we may begin to reflect on the necessity Strasbourg, France. She has worked on several research pro- for architects to complete all the models and tables. jects realized at an international level and supported by Social progress is reflected in professional specializa- public and private competitive grants. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture and tion. It is not hard to imagine that if artists, historians, Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong. Her research scientists, and even the public could participate in the interests include South-eastern Asian architecture and urban process of concept interpretation through the design, Human-friendly design, Socially responsible design, improvement of models and tables, there is no doubt User experience & design, Culture & Design, Space produc- that more comprehensive, objective, and diverse tion, Technology in design, Design education development, results will be obtained. As Bruno said, “To have trans- and methodology. formed the social from what was a surface, a territory, a province of reality, into a circulation, is what I think References has been the most useful contribution of ANT” (Latour, Beijing Museum Construction Project Owner’s Committee. B 1999). 2004. 首都博物馆新馆建筑设计征集方案集 [A Collection of Architectural Design Schemes for the New Hall of Beijing Museum]. Beijing, China: China Architecture & Building Press. 5.3. More possibilities in the future practice Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau. 2011. 近代建筑 [Modern Architecture]. Beijing, China: Beijing Arts and An Actor-Network Theory (ANT) study starts from Photography Publishing House. a controversy, and its original intention is to enrich Boehm, G. V. 2004. 贝聿铭谈贝聿铭 [Conversations with I. M. the explanation of existing phenomena. But it can be Pei]. Shanghai, China: Wen Hui Press. predicted that if we apply this method to the decision- BIAD. 2010. 中国博物馆建筑 [Museum Buildings in China]. making process of creative practice, these intuitive and Tianjin, China: Tianjin University Press. Browning, G., A. Halcli, and F. Webster, Eds. 2000. visual models will play the role of “attribute inter- Understanding Contemporary Society: Theories of the preter”. It means that, not only the architects in the Present. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. 9780761959267. professional field could more clearly and intuitively doi:10.4135/9781446218310. connect with the actors who affect the environment, Canclini, N. G. 2014. Art beyond Itself: Anthropology for a Society but the experts in other fields will also become the without a Story Line. Durham: Duke University Press. actors who participate in the creation process. It is the Carpo, M. 2005. “Architecture: Theory, Interdisciplinarity, and deconstruction of architects’ task and the integration Methodological Eclecticism.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 64 (4): 425–427. doi:10.2307/25068195. of disciplines. More importantly, it is a scientific and Carroll, L. V. M. 1953. “Creative Eclecticism.” Journal of the democratic response to the complexity of contempor- Society of Architectural Historians 12 (4): 15–18. ary society. The actors will stand ahead of architecture. doi:10.2307/987646. Choong, Y. L. 1996. The Museum of Medical Sciences Building – Architectural Features and Curiosities of a Historic Building. Disclosure statement Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Grand Opening Commemorative Publication. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the Danto, A. C., and L. Goehr. 1997. After the End of Art: author(s). Contemporary Art and the Pale of History (Vol. 197). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Department of Architecture, The Hong Kong University. Notes on contributors 1999. 香港大学建筑系测绘图集 [Measured Drawings: Volume Two]. Beijing, China: China Planning Press. Kaiyu Cheng received his Master's degree in Architecture Fujimori, T. 2010. 日本近代建筑 [Japanese Modern Architecture]. from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). He Jinan, China: Shandong People’s Publishing House Co. has worked on several national-level research & design pro- Gu, M. C. 1983. “北京香山饭店建筑设计座谈会 [Discussions jects and international competitions. He is currently working on Xiangshan Hotel].” 建筑学报 83 (3): 57–64. toward his Ph.D. degree with the University of Chinese Hansen, L. H.rapport nr. 2001. The Division of Labour in post- Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and the City University of industrial Societies. Gothenburg: Göteborg studies in Hong Kong (CityU). His research interests include architec- sociology 5. tural design and theory, technology in design, and eclectic Heidegger, M. 2013. 10. Sein und Zeit. Anthologie der realis- architecture. tischen Phänomenologie, 195–208. Berlin, Boston: De Doctor Paulina Neisch explores architecture and urban Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783110329414.195. design through practice, research, and publication. She is a Hintikka, J. 2003. “The Notion of Intuition in Husserl.” Revue qualified architect (M.Arch., M.Sc., Professional License, sev- Internationale de Philosophie (2) (2): 57–79. doi:10.3917/ eral years of architectural practice) and educator (several rip.224.0057. years of teaching experience at graduate and postgraduate Ho, F. C. 2020. The Silent Protector - Hong Kong’s Bacteriological levels in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East) with the multi- Institute, Its History and Legacy. Hong Kong, China: disciplinary approach to research, teaching and design. She Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences Society. 16 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Howell, R. J. 2007. “The Knowledge Argument and Su, S. W. 2017. 晚清以降 : 西力冲击下的社会变迁 [After Objectivity.” Philosophical Studies 135 (2): 145–177. the Late Qing Dynasty: Social Changes Under the doi:10.1007/s11098-007-9077-0. Impact of Western Forces]. Beijing, China: Commercial Huang, J. M. 2019. 贝聿铭建筑十讲 [I.M. Pei’s Ten Lectures Press. on Architecture]. Nanjing, China: Phoenix Science Press. Van Eck, N. J., and L. Waltman. 2010. “Software Survey: Husserl, E. 2016. 现象学的观念 [The Idea of Phenomenology]. VOSviewer, a Computer Program for Bibliometric Beijing, China: Commercial Press. Mapping.” scientometrics 84 (2): 523–538. doi:10.1007/ Jencks, C. A. 1978. “The Language of post-modern s11192-009-0146-3. Architecture.” Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 37: 2. Van Eck, N. J., and L. Waltman. 2017. “Citation-based Jiang, L. 2013. “中国传统建筑语言在当代 —香山饭店研究综 Clustering of Publications Using CitNetExplorer and 述 [The Modernization of Chinese Traditional VOSviewer.” Scientometrics 111 (2): 1053–1070. Architecture – Research Summary of Papers on Fragrant doi:10.1007/s11192-017-2300-7. Hill Hotel].” 设计 , no. 11: 85–86. Van Eck, N. J., and L. Waltman. 2020. “VOSviewer Manual. Kazhar, N. 2016. “Lessons of History and Search for “New Global Leiden: Univeristeit Leiden.“ https://www.vosviewer.com/ Style” in Architecture.” Architecture and Engineering 1 (1): documentation/Manual_VOSviewer_1.6.15.pdf 19–25. doi:10.23968/2500-0055-2016-1-1-19-25. Venturini, T. 2010. “Diving in Magma: How to Explore Kidney, W. C. 1974. The Architecture of Choice. New York: Controversies with actor-network Theory.” Public Eclecticism in America, 1880-1930. G. Braziller. Understanding of Science 19 (3): 258–273. doi:10.1177/ Lai, D. L. 1993. 实测报告 2: 清末陆军部南楼 . 中国近代建筑总 0963662509102694. 览 ·北京篇 [The Architecture Heritage of Modern China: Venturini, T. 2012. “Building on Faults: How to Represent Beijing], 39–56. Beijing, China: China Architecture Controversies with Digital Methods.” Public Publishing & Media Co. Understanding of Science 21 (7): 796–812. doi:10.1177/ Latour, B . 1996. “On Actor-Network Theory: A Few 0963662510387558. Clarifications.” Soziale welt 47 (4): 369–381. Vivant, E. 2018. “Experiencing research-creation in Urban Latour, B . 2007. Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Studies.” Lessons from an Inquiry on the Making of Public Actor-Network-Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Space. Cities 77: 60–66. 9780199256051. Von Bertalanffy, L. 1987. 一般系统论 [General System Theory]. Latour, B. 1999. “On Recalling ANT.” The Sociological Review Beijing, China: Social Sciences Academic Press. 47 (1_suppl): 15–25. doi:10.1111/j.1467-954X.1999.tb03480.x. Wang, T. X. 1994. 贝聿铭 [Ieoh Ming Pei]. Beijing, China: Law, J., and J. Hassard. 1999. Actor Network Theory and after. China Architecture & Building Press. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell. Wei, H. S., and G. P. Zeng. 2009. 系统论 : 系统科学哲学 Li, J., and D. T. Jia. 2019. 百年贝聿铭 [I.M. Pei]. Beijing, China: [SYSTEMATICISM]. Beijing, China: Beijing World Publishing Joint Publishing Company. Corporation. Liu, L. A., and X. Lu. 2016. 北京王府建筑 [Prince’s Residence in Wissink, B. 2013. “Enclave Urbanism in Mumbai: An Beijing]. Beijing, China: China Architecture Publishing & actor-network-theory Analysis of Urban (Dis) Media Co. Connection.” Geoforum 47: 1–11. doi:10.1016/j. Marres, N. 2015. “Why Map Issues? On Controversy Analysis geoforum.2013.02.009. as a Digital Method. Science.” Technology, & Human Values Xue, C. Q. 2005. Building a Revolution: Chinese Architecture 40 (5): 655–686. doi:10.1177/0162243915574602. since 1980 (Vol. 1). Hong Kong, China: Hong Kong Sheppard, A. 2006. Some Thoughts on Canadian and University Press . American Eclecticism in Public Architecture. Montreal: Xue, C. Q. 2015. — 1946-2011 [Contextualizing McGill University, 1000–1036. Modernity: Hong Kong Architecture 1946-2011]. Hong Kong, Steen, A. P. 2015. “Radical Eclecticism and Post-Modern China: Commercial Press (HK). Architecture. Fabrications: The Journal of the Society of Zhang, F. H. 2008. 图说北京近代建筑史 [History of Beijing Architectural Historians.” Australia and New Zealand 25 (1): Architecture in Modern Period]. Beijing, China: Tsinghua 130–145. University Press. 香港建筑 城境 JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 17 Zhang, X. L. 2010. 现象学导论七讲 : 从原著阐发原意 [The Appendix Introduction of Phenomenology: Expounding the Original Table A1. Idea from the Original Work]. Beijing, China: China Renmin University Press. Table A2. 18 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Table A3. Table A4. JOURNAL OF ASIAN ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING ENGINEERING 19 Table B1. Table B2. 20 K. CHENG AND P. NEISCH Table B3. Table B4.

Journal

Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering – Taylor & Francis

Published: May 4, 2023

Keywords: Architectural attribute; Actor-Network-Theory (ANT); cartography of controversies; eclecticism; intuition

There are no references for this article.