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Title:
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Sacralizing harmonious existence: adapting of Dunhuang for a more resilient tomorrow
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Creator:
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Chen, Jieyi (Zooey)
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Subject:
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Thesis (M.U.D.) -- Urban Design
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Subject:
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Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Architecture
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Rights:
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Copyright is retained by the authors or artists of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Abstract:
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This thesis explores the issue of “the disappearance of oases” through analyzing the evolution of city of Dunhuang, China, which developed from a strategically situated oasis town along the ancient Silk Road. In Han Dynasty (190–195 AD), when the ancient Silk Road first opened, this town commands a strategic position at the crossroads of the Silk Road trade route. Leading from India via Lhasa to Mongolia and Southern Siberia, this trade route controlling the entrance to the narrow Hexi Corridor which led straight to the heart of north Chinese plains and the ancient capital cities Luoyang and Xian. As the hub of east and west trade, Dunhuang also became a cultural melting pot where the traditions of China and western countries met, collided, and merged. Dunhuang went into a steep decline after Chinese trade with the outside world became dominated by Southern sea-routes, and the Silk Road was officially abandoned during the Ming Dynasty (1403–1644AD). Under uncontrolled multiple cultural influence and worsening natural conditions, Dunhuang lost its origin and identity to live. This project proposal aims to study the origin of this city as well as the reflection of its intangible growth. Under this guideline, it attempts to tackle existing environmental and culture issues by manipulated a natural mode of urbanism which is framed by a productive ecology, and incorporating a more systematic proposal for a time-based, dynamic, urbanization process. The main purpose is utilize the process to rethink and redefine the authenticity of oases: isolation and limitation. Through testing new prototypes of monasteries life with cultural infrastructure, natural landscape and new farming systems, this thesis proposes a way to obtain a more resilient tomorrow for Dunhuang.
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Abstract:
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Keywords:
oases, Silk Road, monastery life, oasis-desert eco-system, agro-ecosystem
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Publisher:
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Savannah, Georgia : Savannah College of Art and Design
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Date:
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2014-11
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Format:
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PDF ; 92 p. : ill. (some col.)
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