Comments on: Chinese landscape architecture competition for Tiananman Square https://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/chinese-landscape-architecture-competition-for-tiananman-square/ Gardenvisit.com Fri, 22 May 2009 05:38:29 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.8 By: Tom Turner https://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/chinese-landscape-architecture-competition-for-tiananman-square/#comment-609 Fri, 22 May 2009 05:38:29 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=1138#comment-609 Yes.
There are few places on earth with such a significant role in the citizen:state relationship.
In Chinese history, one of the key roles of the state has been to protect the citizens from invasions – and it is a role which cannot be discounted. China’s geography is ‘centralizing’ and when the central power has failed it has suffered, terribly, from invasions.

]]> By: Christine https://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/chinese-landscape-architecture-competition-for-tiananman-square/#comment-608 Fri, 22 May 2009 02:40:37 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=1138#comment-608 I suppose one of the fundamental questions of a democracy is the role of the state in the life of the citizen.

In democratic countries the role of the state is sometimes given over to private organisations -this can create a hybrid monster seemingly with the powers of the state but with no accountability. This happened within church organisations for example in the care of children in orphanages.

Could some sort of functional brief include a memorial or other device which explores the idea of:

How the promotion of the welfare of the citizen might be achieved?
How to eliminate his/her abuse by the state/or quasi-state powers?

]]> By: Tom Turner https://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/chinese-landscape-architecture-competition-for-tiananman-square/#comment-607 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:28:40 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=1138#comment-607 There are equally good reasons for launching the re-design with a consideration of:
– function (Commodity)
– aesthetics (Delight)
– ecology, construction and planting (Firmness)
But all your questions are good. China’s leaders, I think, see their country as marching on a long road to democracy and one of the kilometerstones on this road could be a referendum on a short list of design options for Tiananmen Square.

]]> By: Christine https://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/chinese-landscape-architecture-competition-for-tiananman-square/#comment-606 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:14:53 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=1138#comment-606 Should we start with defining a functional vision? I imagine for the Chinese the ability to display military hardware on parade is an important use. Is a memorial to the Tiananmen Square massacre important? Would it be acceptable to the present government? Should the historic Gate of China be reconstructed in some form?

]]> By: Asian landscape architecture and garden design in the twentieth century | Gardenvisit.com Blog https://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/chinese-landscape-architecture-competition-for-tiananman-square/#comment-605 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:53:11 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=1138#comment-605 […] See also: Previous post on Asian gardens and landscapes […]

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