May 25 – Jul 14, Growing Home: Archive of Master Architects’ Own Houses (1930s-1960s)
Growing Home: Archive of Master Architects’ Own Houses (1930s-1960s)
The early modern architecture is diverse, some of which are still maintaining their vitality until now. This exhibition focus on architects’ own houses, most of which are works during the modern movement. In this case, the architect is both the designer and the client, and the house is where they work and live. Daily life within the house is a manifesto of both the architecture and a distinct way of living. The house is both a warm harbor meanwhile a business card for the architect. Undoubtedly, the houses present the architects’ respective visions, which grow with times and allow us to examine the richness of modern architecture.
Heritage and Public Recognition
13 houses and a housing cluster are selected as research subjects. In order to study and reveal the relationship between different architectural elements, materials such as surveys, archives, 3d models, axonometric drawings map were included. The scope of the study span across five continents, searching for houses that had become heritage or Iconic Houses. Most of the houses by European or American architects are hosted by foundations or museums and only 11 houses are regularly or permanently open to the public, which have become great examples of preservation internationally. Among the 14 houses, house by Lin Keming’s and the clusters in the former French Concession in China are not open to the public. The exhibition re-examines the subtle relationship between the houses and the architects’ career path which is also the fading memory of the metropolis.
Asian Architects in a Global Perspective
Many Asian architects received their architectural training in Europe or the United States. The culture and historical background of these countries in which they studied have deep influences in their future practices. Some of these architects were fighting for national independence. Creation and struggle are the norms in life. The houses of great Asian architects are the witnesses of the unique history of Asian countries. The exhibition attempts to show the practices of Asian architects during the modern architectural movement.
Distinguished Exhibits
It is a great honor to showcase exhibits from the Tongji University which are from 80 years ago.
Exhibition Section
Reading • Europe and America
[1] Finland• Alvar Aalto
The Rihitie House: Home is Atelier，1934
[2] South Africa • Distin Martienssen
Martienssen House: Cubism in Living，1940
[3] America • Charles Eames
The Eames House: Case Study House #8，1947
[4] Australia • Harry Seidler
Rose Seidler House: Shadow in Heatwave，1948
[5] Denmark • Arne Jacobsen
Søholm I: South –East Corner of a Row House，1951
[6] France • Le Corbusier
Cabanon: Modular Cabanon，1951
[7] UK • Sir Basil Spence
Spence House: Boat Simplicity，1961
[8] Poland • Oscar Hansen
Summer House: Free Form，1966
Meeting • Asia
[1] China• LIN Keming林克明
LIN’s Home: Home before Anti-Japanese War，1935
[2] Japan• Maekawa Kunio
Kunio House: 30 Ping，1941
[3] Taiwan China •WANG Dahong 王大闳
WANG Dahong House: Courtyard，1953
[4] Indonesia • Frederich Silaban
Silaban House: Draught，1958
[5] Cambodia • Vann Molyvann
The House of Vann Molyvan: Staggered Floor，1966
Video
Choosing a Living Place: A Group of Architects’ Own Houses in Original French Concession in Shanghai
Exhibitor
Prof. ZHU Xiaoming, WU Yangjie
Curator
SU Hang Kelsi, XU Yuelan
Curatorial Team
LI Hui, WU Shuyu, WANG Yuwei, XU Jiayi, ZHANG Shuxuan
Academic Support
College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, China
Shanghai Institute of Design, China Academy of Fine Arts, China
Library of Tongji University, China
Acknowledgement
Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong
China Architecture & Building Press
Alvar Aalto Foundation
Polly Seidler
Vann Molyvann（1928-2017）
XFRAME
Opening Reception: 3pm, Saturday, May 25, 2019
Date: May 25 – July 14, 2019
Venue：Ground Floor Gallery, Shanghai Study Center, The University of Hong Kong.
Address: No.298 North Suzhou Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai
Exhibitor
ZHU Xiaoming, Professor of College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, China. She has been engaged in the education, practice, and research of the Chinese conservation and utilization of architectural heritage for 25 years. She is a reviewer of The Construction History Journal, International Journal of Architectural Heritage Studies. Her works include Contemporary Heritage Conservation in Britain Today (ZHU Xiaoming, 2007). The Picturesque of the Old Lilong Housing in Shanghai (ZHU Xiaoming, ZHU Donghai, 2012). Master Architect’s Own House (1920s-1960s) (ZHU Xiaoming, WU Yangjie, 2018).
WU Yangjie. Ph.D. candidate, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, China. One of the authors of Master Architect’s Own House (1920s-1960s) (ZHU Xiaoming, WU Yangjie, 2018).
Curator
SU Hang Kelsi is a curator, architect and Writer. Su has successfully curated and introduced a variety of architectural exhibitions, and published on books, journals and online platforms. As the curator of Shanghai Study Center, The University of Hong Kong, she has successfully curated “Illusions of Rural Gravity: Eight Thoughts of Chinese Rural Development” as joint exhibition of 2015 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season, “Geography, Landscape and Infrastructure” at UrbanCross Gallery in 2018. Su participated in many architectural exhibitions, including “Passage, Pockets and Permeabilities”(2015) “Emilio Ambasz: Architecture Towards Nature” (2018) and “Sergei Tchoban: Architectural Drawings/Drawing Architectures”(2019).
Xu Yuelan, lecturer of Urban Space Design Department, Shanghai Design College, China Academy of Fine Arts. Xu has been engaged in architectural design and urban design. She is the curator of “Power of Power: Yangshupu Power Plant Industrial Heritage Teaching Exhibition 2019”, and the author of “Construction, Form and Place” and “Perceptual Furniture”.