Title: Ancient practice, contemporary form: Understanding the role of Feng Shui in Chinese built environmentsSubmitted by: Dr. Rochelle E. Ball, School of Geography and Oceanography, The University of New South WalesFeng Shui has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years in architectural practice, interior and landscape design. What is often not acknowledged, is the central importance it plays in the creation of contemporary built environments in both Chinese cities of Asia, Chinese spaces in Western cities, and increasingly in Western private and public spaces. Thus while the architectural form of the built environment has changed dramatically, the underlying principles of design have remained constant for millennia. This paper examines the contemporary postmodern city of Hong Kong and its conformity to broad Feng Shui principals at the city wide scale, and then in more detail through the analysis of two major buildings that dominate the built environment of Hong Kong: the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and the Bank of China Building. This paper emphasizes the central importance of understanding underlying cultural processes in the creation, meaning and the intention of ancient and contemporary built environments. Return to Abstracts menuCarol Burnett Phone: 61 - 3 - 9349 1899 Email: c.burnett@asialink.unimelb.edu.au
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