Research And Analysis Of Russian And Chinese Architectural Structures (Wooden Construction)

Globalization has nearly deprived big cities of their cultural and historical heritage.As the progress wheel keeps spinning, instead of buildings with distinct cultural features,modern universalized buildings are becoming more and more common. At the same timethere has been seen a trend of architects borrowing ethno-cultural styles in their designs, theyare combining and mixing together modern and ancient elements from different cultures.In the research process there were used different historical and architectural books, aswell as academic works of leading specialists in the field of architecture. In order to get a fullunderstanding of thesis topic, author has traveled to different places in China and Russia andobserved architectural monuments, destinations include such places as Lanzhou city’s Baitatemple, Beijing’s Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, City Wall of Xian, the Maijishangrottoes in Tianshui city, Royal village in Saint Petersburg (Russia), as well as severalvillages in West Russia. Author of this thesis has also met few descendants of Russiancarpenters.Mutual interaction in the field of architecture between Russia and China has noanalogs not only in the countries of Northeast Asia but also in the whole world.Aim of this thesis is to analyze Russian and Chinese wooden architecture, list themain differences in construction methodology, as well as identify their mutual influences.Having this unique opportunity of living and studying in China, the author of thesischose a research of traditional Chinese and Russian wooden architecture as a thesis topic.History of wooden architecture is mostly reflected in residential buildings which is also themain object of this research.This thesis lists basic features of building construction in two countries, payingspecial attention to unique and memorable roof structures. Author of this thesis makesattempts in finding reasons for origination of the up-turned curved roof in China. Thisresearch explains construction of the most typical architectural entities like Chinese pavilionand Russian peasant’s house. There has been done a comparative research of building processand features of these wooden buildings. There have also been highlighted distinct features ofeach of these structures. A special attention has been paid to a very unique structure in theworld which is Chinese “dou gong” interlocking wooden brackets. There have been explainedstages of its development, basic functions and location in the building. Author has also triedto draw a structural assembly of a “dou gong”. Thesis author has also drawn a constructionunit using architectural software AUTO CAD.In the research process there were discovered common and distinct features betweenRussian and Chinese wooden architecture.The results are as follows:Both countries use assembly method. Standardization of building construction meantthat carpenters knew the exact precise size of all the details and building elementsthat were used in construction;Chinese architecture is based on post and cantilever construction while basis forRussian architecture is the load-bearing construction or post and beam construction;In Chinese architecture unlike Russian architecture walls are not carrying the load ofthe building. Chinese buildings have posts and beams for this purpose; In Chinese buildings the load is allocated in a rectangular structure while Russianroof frame allocates load in a triangular structure.Finally, author of this thesis has analyzed interaction and mutual influence ofarchitectural traditions of China and Russia. Author hopes that this thesis and its theoreticalcontent will contribute to preserving the uniqueness of architectural heritage of both of thesecountries as well as serve as a handbook for reconstruction of ancient architectural structuresas well as creating new works of art.