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In contemporary China, ‘experimental architecture’ depicts the rise of independent architectural explorations offered by a group of young Chinese architects in the mid-1990s. These young Chinese architects claimed to have established an autonomous architecture, distant from commercial interventions. This research examines the credibility of architectural autonomy stated by these architects in light of the field theory put forward by the French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. Through this interdisciplinary perspective, the paper focuses on the often overlooked interpersonal networks of critics, architects, and publishers. Through analysing their roles in promoting these experimental architects on the basis of professional publications, this research argues that the notion of architectural autonomy is constituted by a symbiotic collaboration among these actors through a discursive approach and architectural autonomy, despite indicating an architectural resistance against commercial forces, serves a commodity sold in the cultural market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Today's construction industry is overflowing with new ideas about its future. Off-Site Manufacture and Construction (OSCM) is at the heart of the modern construction industry. Much has been written about the state and context of OSCM in different countries regarding its perceived benefits and barriers to implementation. Off-site production (OSP) plays an important role in improving fragmented construction processes. Although most OSP research targets the attitudes and practices of OSP adoption, there is limited understanding of the philosophical issues underpinning OSP-related architecture. The roles of the architects' personal philosophies are neglected and this hampers their implementation of OSM (which has had a largely technical focus). This paper explores the traditional thinking patterns of architects in China and predicts possible future roles for them. It then conceptualizes an "architectural work" mode and a "building product" mode of design and construction and identifies the shortcomings of architects in an OSCM environment. The arguments made are based on practitioners' perceptions and the first author's practical experiences of leading several real-life projects in recent years. The findings reveal the implications and significance of the transformation from an "architectural work" mode to a "building product" mode. We foresee a study approach that focuses on the order and rules for OSCM, resulting in architects' existing mindsets being changed to thinking patterns and design methodologies better suited to OSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focussing on design and engineering architects often forget to translate the quality of their „products‟ into customer value. Understanding this weakness architects have to increase their commitment to marketing. This paper analyses the base for a successful "sustainable architecture" marketing concept with an international perspective. It evaluates the fast growing market potential for sustainable architectural services in the PR China. A sustainable prototype of the author designed and supervised for the PR China serves as case study to evaluate the results of this analysis. As conclusion appropriate marketing strategies for architects and designers with a sustainable or environmental focus are given. It will show the drivers and barriers of entering foreign markets with the innovative product "Sustainable Design" or "Environmental Friendly Architecture". The research findings are valuable for designers and architects who want to enter the Chinese market as well as for companies that already completed projects in foreign markets and want to expand or specialize with an environmental focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identified two alternative but potentially simultaneous processes for rural development in China. One is the 'bottom-up' approach where individuals and groups of villagers work innovatively in developing new building construction opportunities, prompted by contemporary and indigenous design and construction methods. The alternative 'top-down' approach is associated with changes caused by external influences, such as directions given from funding sources, and encouragement for the use of specific knowledge and technologies; this is then filtered down through village administrative systems. Two ethnic villages were studied in Yunnan province, an area with a larger rural low-income population than other regions. Each village exhibited strong traditional cultures and each had undergone different tourist redevelopment over a period of more than ten years. The case studies revealed discrepancies between the academic categorization of dwellings in villages based on the representations of traditional culture created by materials and techniques, and the villagers' own perception of the social and cultural meanings of their houses and spaces in the village. The outcomes suggest that architects and designers could have different involvement in rural development through building platforms for discussion and decision-making, used with and amongst stakeholders, and which could link the two different directions of approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green buildings can have a more significant impact on their occupant health and productivity through improving indoor environment quality. However, post-occupancy studies invariably pointed out that green buildings were not always more comfortable and productive than non-green buildings. The article presents a comparison study between three buildings in Shenzhen aiming to examine the actual performance of green buildings from occupant point of view. The two green buildings marked a higher satisfaction on the health and productivity perception. However, in-depth examinations on IEQs showed some weaknesses in the two green buildings. On the comfort and satisfaction with the indoor air and temperature, the two green buildings performed better in summer but worse in winter. One of the two green buildings had significantly more noise from different sources than the conventional building. The other green building was significantly less satisfactory on the lighting environment than the conventional building. Implications were discussed for the green building designs and operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview is presented with architect Chien Chung "Didi" Pei. He discusses his work in China, and the evolution of Chinese models of urban planning. Pei notes that automobiles have largely replaced bicycles in Chinese cities, in the course of 20 years. He discusses traditional Chinese templates of house design and modern Japanese architecture, and mentions the influence of his father, the well-known architect I.M. Pei.