A Study Of The Creation And Reception Of The Architectural Form Of The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is a double-decked road-rail truss bridge and was the first heavy bridge designed and built using Chinese expertise.It was both a great engineering achievement and a classical piece of architecture created in a special age.On one hand,it differs from any other bridges of its time in meeting intertwined engineering,symbolic and functional requirements through architecture design and therefore is a unique case for the study of Chinese modern architecture.On the other hand,its form was widely spread for decades since completion and has witnessed a changing process of public reception.In this sense,the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge can be seen as a rare case for understanding the mediation between architecture and its public reception.Based on these understandings,this thesis uses separate methods to analyze the design process and the reception process.Based on archives and interviews,the thesis combines the methods of historical research and formal analysis to study the architectural design of the grand bridge and divides the design process into three phases:the first preliminary design,the second preliminary design,and the national design competition.The procedures and proposals in each phase are analyzed,compared and then discussed against the thoughts of Italian futurism.The second part of this thesis uses the methods of statistical analysis and logical demonstration to study the receptive process of the architectural image of grand bridge.Drawing upon reception theory,this thesis analyzes the architectural image according to different types of media,discusses the different understandings of the architectural image of the grand bridge under different viewing mechanisms,and analyzes the changes in the public reception of the architectural image in different historical stages.This thesis intends to better understand the design,historical value and social significance of the grand bridge and to provide a research base for its conservation and regeneration.Secondly,this thesis argues that the architectural design of the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is a comprehensive exploration into bridge engineering and commemorative architecture under special historical circumstances.This distinctive case is of great importance to understand the architectural design and practice in the 1960s’China,as well as the development of China’s commemorative architectural design.In addition,this thesis argues that the architectural image is an important intermediary between the professional field of architectural design and the public understanding of a landmark.It is a product of both the design and receptive processes.Therefore,reception theory is useful for understanding how architecture enters into the public realm and provides a new theoretical perspective for studying the relationship between architecture and place of memory.