How Does Architecture Become “Cultural”?

Yu Jian

Architecture is inextricably linked to culture, a relationship that has long captured attention and merits ongoing discussion. Architecture, in its static form, serves as a tangible embodiment of a city’s cultural identity; the cultural currents of different eras infuse buildings across time and space with boundless vitality and dynamism. At the same time, the interplay between architecture and culture must be understood within specific historical and regional contexts, and it is precisely through this lens that we can reflect on the past while critically engaging with the present.

On April 16, 2019, Professor Yu Jian from the Department of Architecture at Zhejiang University was a guest at GLA, where he delivered a lecture titled “How Does Architecture Become ‘Cultural’?” in which he shared his profound insights into the relationship between architecture and culture.

In the face of rapid and ever-changing developments, people often lack the time to reflect or to draw lessons; architecture, meanwhile, is left with no opportunity to engage deeply with rich cultural traditions, nor can it wait for the sedimentation of modern civilization. As a result, standardized buildings have come to dominate our cities. Teacher Yu Jian’s interpretation of the relationship between “architecture” and “culture” opens up a completely new perspective for architectural design, inviting us to consider a site and a project from a higher-dimensional vantage point. It also reminds us that the right design approach does not necessarily have to be prefigured before work begins—it can instead emerge through the act of truly reading and understanding the site itself.

When interpreting a site, we must draw not only on its physical form but also on its historical evolution, thereby providing additional layers of support for our design—support that cannot be gleaned through mere visual intuition. Not every site offers such rich layers of meaning to be deciphered; this approach is indeed challenging, yet it is precisely what Professor Yu Jian has steadfastly pursued for over a decade. Through him, we have come to appreciate a profound conviction and deep passion for architectural design.