Aesthetic Of Contemporary Urban Environmental Design Analysis And Criticism

China is nowadays undergoing a fast process of urbanisation that is progressively drawing people's attention to the planning of urban environment with growing awareness of the issues involved and an improvement in the level of design. However, contemporary Chinese environmental design is also increasingly marked by problems such as unscrupulous demolition of cities traditional characteristics, uncritical imitation of Euro-American style, innumerable creations of projects driven by mere political propaganda (政绩工程), painstaking search for luxurious landscapes, arbitrary destruction of the natural environment and so on. Annihilation of cities' peculiar charm and dull duplication of urban architectural style are widespread phenomena, while overemphasis on visual appeal detached from a comprehensive rationale about aesthetical values has become the malpractice of today's Chinese city planning. The present dissertation endeavours to survey the state of contemporary urban design, and to analyse and evaluate it from the perspective of aesthetics.Cities are the greatest work of art created by humanity, they represent a people and a country's culture at the highest level; therefore, they should also display the highest aesthetic ideals of a civilisation. A beautiful city not only offers a pleasing living environment, but it can also influence the feelings and the psychology of its residents, while contributing to the creation of their collective identity as well. A beautiful city by offering an indirect artistic education exerts a pedagogical function and therefore contributes to a harmonious psychological integration. The discussion about the aesthetical value of urban settings is beneficial to the pursuit of the ideal relation between humanity and environment, and it is conducive to the growth of people's sense of identity and belonging in relation to the city.The capacity for an aesthetical appreciation of environmental beauty is the result of a specific historical development. In any culture the psychological structure of people determines the features of their ability in aesthetical appreciation and creativity. Breaking away from history, forsaking traditional culture and disregarding all established patterns, formulas and forms can not but weaken beauty's character. By considering the natural and human landscape of a city, its peculiar identity, urban dimension and space, as well as the design of a city environment, the present dissertation attempts to analyse and evaluate the aesthetical conceptions embodied in today's Chinese urban design. This study endeavours to construct a standard of aesthetical judgment for a good urban environment, which may be beneficial to deepening the understanding of the spirit of traditional Chinese aesthetics, re-establishing the self-confidence of Chinese culture and thus build a good urban environment with true Chinese characteristics.