Contemporary Cluster Design Phenomenon

Contemporary Group Design in China is a new architectural event and cultural phenomenon that has been developing in recent years. This organization mode, which consists on commissioning more than one architect (or architecture office) to design separated units of one project, has become an exciting"architectural event"; and the multiplicity of the designed schemes and the way they are linked altogether also have a wealth of architectural significance. Since there are more and more Group designs and since they have important social consequences, it is necessary to lead a systematic research.The birth of Group Design is deeply rooted in a particular situation of Chinese society: at the beginning of a new century, the economy and institution are considerably changing; consumerism, mass society and the mass media have controlled the standard values of the society; the amazing Great Leap Forward of the construction is taking place ...This situation is a hotbed for Group Design and is also an important context of this research.That is why the analysis will firstly focus on the historical background and the cultural environment; then we will give an interpretation of the internal impetus before analyzing the characteristics of the operation and organization, combing out the characteristics of the creative process and strategies of design; we will also analyze the architectural characteristics of the projects. At the same time we will consider the role played by clients, curators, architects, media and public and, their respective gain and loss. Finally we will analyze the role of the architects, and the deep interaction between their value, their design and living environment, and Group Design. Based on the multi-angle review, it reveals the architectural, cultural and social significance. In a sense, Group Design is the reflection of the architectural, cultural and industrial mutations in contemporary China. It might nurture a vital force of the architecture development in the future. We hope that these multi-angle and systematic observation and study could give some revelations in order to explore further the development of Chinese contemporary architecture.