Comparison of two Historical Buildings in the Greater Los Angeles - Research Paper Example

Comparison of two Historical Buildings in the Greater Los Angeles Introduction The Chinese architecture has a fascinating history that is as old as Chinese civilization. This style of architecture has been employed for centuries now and has even had a major effect on modern architectural styles. Buildings constructed using this style of architecture have one fascinating feature in common; they have the same structural characteristics. As evidenced in this report, this style of architecture makes use of the same structural principles in almost all buildings, with the only variations been on the decorative details. For centuries now, this style of construction has withstood the test of time and foreign invasion and is likely to be in operation for thousands of years to come. Moreover, this architectural style has also been utilized in foreign cities such as Los Angeles while still retaining its principal distinctiveness (Essential Architecture 1). An engineering marvel, a brilliant masterpiece and a piece of architectural genius, these are a few of the many statements that can be used in reference to the The Thien Hau temple and the Chinese study center. The two buildings are located in Los Angeles and were built in 1980. They serve the Chinese population in Los Angeles in different ways. For instance, the Chinese Study Center serves as an educational forum for students interested in the Chinese culture and education. The educational purpose of the building mainly becomes clear with its location being within the California State University (Los Angeles Landmarks 1). The construction of the two buildings, as analyzed in this report, is as good as the Forbidden City in various ways, one being that they are all classical Chinese buildings. This can be evidenced by the similarity in a number of features such as the door gods which are displayed on the doorways. For instance, The Thien Hau Temple is dominated by three statues of the goddess. Likewise, the Forbidden City gates are decorated with a 9 by 9 assortment of golden door nails, excluding the East Glorious Gate which has eight rows (China Tour Design 1). Bilateral symmetry and articulation of the design is greatly considered in the following: 1. The foundation 2. Structural beams 3. Structural connections 4. Walls and roofs of Chinese Foundation It can be argued that the Forbidden City is the richest of the three classical buildings. It has vertical structural beams resting on raised stone pedestals that frequently rest on wooden piles. The Thien Hau temple is raised as well though not as high as the Forbidden City. There are also large vertical structural beams as seen in both the Forbidden City and Thien Hau temple. The vertical beams are made of wood and are set to rest vertically and as a result exert pressure on the ground to gain stability. The Chinese study center is also well founded as it has proven over time. Structural beams Both the Thien Hau temple and the Forbidden City have large structural timbers which act as primary support of the roof. Wooden timber is used as load-bearing columns and lateral beams for articulating and framing buildings to support the roofs. The Forbidden City is also outstanding as it is raised very high compared to the others. Structural connections Timber frames are usually assembled with joinery and doweling alone, hardly ever using glue or nails. It is clear how the types of semi-rigid structural joints are put together when in the interior of the Thien Hau. The joints allow the timber structure to resist bending while under high compression. The long lasting buildings have proven to have structural stability which ensures longer duration. Amazingly, the weight of the timber structures doesn’t pull down the building. This further gives credit to the indigenous system of construction applied. The use of non-rigid support, coupled with the use of wood allows the buildings withstand strong climatically factors such as earthquakes since they can flex and slide. Walls The walls of the Thien Hau are remarkably decorated by colorful figures. The Chinese study center which contains diverse art and architecture information is also very colorful in the interior walls. The Forbidden City is surrounded by high walls which serve a defensive purpose. The walls are 8.62 meters (28.3 ft) wide at the base, tapering to 6.66 meters (21.9 ft) at the top. The walls were constructed with earth and coated three layers of specially baked bricks on both Sides (Archinomy, 3). Roofs The sloping ridges of the three buildings’ roof are decorated. Flat roofs are uncommon while roofs with a gable are almost familiar in traditional Chinese architecture. The decoration of the roof of the Thien Hau temple with small delicately fashioned porcelain figurines helped express the themes from Chinese culture. Three main types of roofs are found (Archinomy, 4): 1. Straight inclined: These roofs have a single incline. These are the most efficient type of roofing and are most widespread in commoner architectures. 2. Multi-inclined: These roofs have two or more sections of incline. They are used in higher class constructions, from the settlement of wealthy commoners to palaces. 3. Sweeping: They have a sweeping curvature that rises at the corners of the roof. These types of roof structure are usually set aside for temples and palaces although it may also be found in the residence of the wealthy. In the former cases, the ridges of this type of roof are customarily highly decorated with ceramic figurines. An example is the Forbidden City which is highly distinguished by this remarkable feature. The Chinese study center and the Thien Hau temple also have the sweeping roof. Decorative Features Other features incorporated include the screen wall, the altar, talisman and imagery, animals and fruits. The altar also has three statues of the goddess with different body parts having different colors. The faces are bronze in color and the rest are multi-colored. Displayed on the doorways are the door gods which are believed to ward off evil and facilitate the flow of good fortune (Religion Facts 4). The Thien Hau altar is dominated by three statues of the goddess and likewise, the Forbidden City gates are decorated with golden door nails. Lantern and wooden models of Chinese theatres hang over the entrance. The quality of decoration is highly defined by the adoption of colors and digits in the numerical data. Decoration is done mainly as symbolism of the Chinese style. The decoration of the roof with small delicately fashioned porcelain figurines helps express the themes from Chinese religion. Lantern and wooden models of Chinese theatres hang over the entrance. The three buildings depict a diverse Chinese architecture practice. The only hindrance that has shown over time is that due to using wooden materials as these materials tend to rot. House construction technique, garden designing and even progressive urban planning have all been witnessed in China. The Thien Hau temple’s fascinating beauty is made possible by every single detail inclusive of the gardens surrounding the building. Similarly, both the Forbidden City and Chinese study center are also surrounded by gardens giving them a visual beauty. The artistic and architectural nature of these buildings has provided an inspiration for artistic works as films and television series have depicted their interests. For instance, The Forbidden City has been a notable example in film production. The Chinese Study Center is used as a library that attracts a majority group of people willing to gain academic wealth. Palace artifacts such as the jade are also found in this building. The jade’s history dates back to the Neolithic period. Empires such as Ming dynasty who resided in the Forbidden City used these items. Conclusion Chinese architecture has had wide impact on both the artistic and architectural knowledge. From the buildings created using this architecture, it is clear to see that has successfully maintained its traditional principal characteristics for centuries now. Conservation of this traditional culture is likely to go on for years to come as stated in this report. Works Cited Archinomy. Chinese Architecture, 2010. Web. 10 April 2013. Retrieved from: < http://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/2100/chinese-architecture> California State University. Chinese Studies Center, 18 Oct 2008. Web. 10 April 2013 Retrieved From: China Tour Design. Walls and Gates of the Forbidden City, n.d. Web. 10 April 2013. Retrieved from: Essential Architecture. Chinese Architectural History, 2010. Web. 10 April 2013. Retrieved from: < http://www.chinese-architecture.info/A-HIST.htm> Los Angeles Landmarks. Natural Landmarks in Los Angeles: Tar Pits and Gorgeous Views, 2013. Web. 9 April 2013. Retrieved from: http://www.losangeleslandmarks.org/ Religion Facts. Chinese Religious Practices, 2005. Web. 7 April 2013. Retrieved From: Read More