A Study On The Community Of Architecture In Conghua Wenquan(1931-1978)

Conghua Wenquan(lit.hot spring/spa),a town lies to the northeast of Guangzhou,Guangdong Province,is rich in hot spring resources and also known as Rare Hot Spring in the World.Mainly surrounding by hills and mountains,Wenquan is located in the narrow river valley plain which Liuxi River meandering through.The research area includes different architectures built on the same theme of hot springs,and these buildings are constructed along the east and west banks of Liuxi River in Conghua Wenquan town's core construction area.The hot spring resources in Conghua have been documented as early as Ming Dynasty(1634).However,it wasn't developed as a tourist spot until the 1930 s.Since then,different types of remarkable architectures were built in Wenquan and formed a special architectural community phenomenon.Conghua Wenquan has been systematically studied in the fields of human geography,architectural typology,and urban morphology.However,there is no further study on the formation and succession process of the community of architecture in Wenquan.From 1931 to 1978,the community of architecture in Wenquan had a close connection with specific people and events.This thesis is discussed from the perspective of architectural community.Based on the local documents,archives,field researches and mapping,this paper analyzes and explains the process of the formation and transition of Wenquan architectural community,and further focus on how did specific characters,different social events and national policies affect the formation of spatial characteristics.This thesis is organized in chronological order.In the 1930 s,the Conghua Wenquan Construction Promotion Association led the construction.Raising funds from the general public,Wenquan was built as a tourist spot step by step.Under the influence of the social economy,it began to build private villas for influential officers of the governments such as Ruomeng Lu and Chen Jitang Villa.Its space was implied social networks.During the War of Resistance Against Japan and the Civil War,the attribute of land changed as the alternation of governments.Wenquan turns from bureaucratic assets to state public property.After the founding of the People's Republic of China,Wenquan continued to develop under the clues of Winter Capital and foreign policy.Conghua Wenquan built a group of architectures dominated by Guangdong Provincial Cadres Convalescent Hotel,Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel and Guangzhou Military District Hostel.Architectures in this period expressed the national ideology by adjusting the design strategies.While Hotel buildings conformed to the Applicable,economical,and aesthetic when possible design guideline,these buildings were preliminary exploration and practice of Lingnan architectures.As resources in nature,culture and polities,the hot spring participates in the construction of the space.The development of communities of architecture combines specific characters,social events.Wenquan's spatial layout was formed by the interweaving of construction of the modern scenic spot and social networks.However,its identity changed during the war period.Then,Wenquan thrived under the state power.The architectural function and styles become the spatial expression of the ideology.Rethinking the evolution and motivation mechanism of Conghua Wenquan's architectural communities,this thesis provides a reference for understanding the value and further protection and renewal in Wenquan.