A Study of the Spatio-temporal Allocation and Cross-Border Design of China-Aided Public Buildings

Abstract

China-aided public buildings (CAPBs), as integral components of international development cooperation (IDC), serve as significant exemplars of global architectural exchange and the dissemination of Chinese architectural practices abroad. These buildings embody distinct cultural values and have a substantial social impact. In comparison to other international projects, CAPBs are notable for their large quantity, diverse typologies, and extensive geographical distribution. Consequently, scholarly interest in CAPBs has been increasing in fields such as political science, economics, geography, and urban planning. However, CAPBs have not received equivalent attention in the domains of built heritage and cross-border architecture and are sometimes perceived as lacking in architectural research value. Despite this, given the current international context of uneven global development, the continued promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the evolving trends in domestic building stocks and overseas architectural diversification, the study of CAPBs is both pertinent and essential.

This research establishes a comprehensive, long-term framework for studying CAPBs. First, it analyzes CAPBs from a macro perspective, elucidating their typological characteristics, spatial-temporal distribution, and driving mechanisms since 1949. Second, it focuses on conference buildings as a representative type, examining the historical development and design considerations. By comparing these structures with similar buildings in China from the same period, this study aims to provide a multifaceted understanding of CAPBs. This research endeavors to highlight the architectural significance of CAPBs, thereby fostering future initiatives in cross-border built heritage preservation and international design collaboration. The principal content and progress of this study are as follows:

(1) Construction and Systematic Analysis of the CAPBs Sample Database: This research undertakes the construction and systematic analysis of a CAPBs sample database, elucidating five primary types and four developmental stages. Utilizing official public data and relevant academic literature and employing a media-based data collection method (MBDC) along with reliability testing, the study compiles a comprehensive database consisting of 761 projects and 18 groups of elements. Within the framework of China's foreign aid initiatives and modern and contemporary architectural history research, the findings indicate that CAPBs primarily address five construction needs of recipient countries: education, government, medical care, sports, and culture.

The policy models and construction priorities of CAPBs have varied significantly across different stages. From 1949 to 1978, the focus was primarily on government buildings and sports facilities, reflecting their importance in diplomatic affairs. During the period from 1979 to 1999, economic reforms led to a general decrease and convergence in foreign investment, yet the diversity of aid types increased, with government buildings and sports facilities remaining central. From 2000 to 2012, the decentralization of state control stimulated the growth of international projects, resulting in a sharp increase in livelihood projects such as education and medical care. From 2013 to the present, driven by national initiatives such as the Belt and Road and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there has been steady development in various types of aid construction by China.

(2) Spatial Distribution, Spatiotemporal Evolution, and Driving Mechanisms of CAPBs: This study employs Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis and geographic detectors to quantitatively examine the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of CAPBs from 1949 to 2020, based on a comprehensive sample database encompassing 107 countries. The analysis reveals that the spatial distribution of CAPBs is uneven and exhibits significant clustering, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative, including the Mediterranean coast, the Suez Canal, and the Bay of Bengal. The density of CAPBs in these areas varies depending on the type of project. While the overall distribution tends toward homogeneity and dispersion, coastal cities in West and East Africa, as well as Southeast Asian countries, consistently emerge as high-value centers for CAPBs.

Further analysis of the driving mechanisms indicates that China's national policies are a decisive factor in the distribution of CAPBs. These policies are formulated with comprehensive consideration of the recipient countries' political environments, economic development levels, social contexts, and bilateral relations. Notably, the demand and production factors within recipient countries significantly influence the spatial distribution of CAPBs. Key variables such as economic level (GDP per capita), population and labor conditions, infrastructure development, human development index (HDI), government effectiveness, and political stability exhibit particularly strong explanatory power. CAPBs are more frequently located in areas characterized by "high urban population growth" and "lack of infrastructure." In contrast, there is a less significant correlation with the resource levels, natural conditions, and bilateral relations of the recipient countries. Thus, the construction of CAPBs is strategically aimed at enhancing the overall development level of underdeveloped countries, focusing on the improvement of various infrastructures and development capabilities, with a pronounced emphasis on pragmatic outcomes.

(3) Cross-border Design Research of CAPBs: This section examines the construction of conference buildings, tracing their historical development and exploring the primary factors influencing the design of Chinese architects in the context of foreign aid, particularly within complex bilateral frameworks involving diplomacy, economics, technology, and culture. Utilizing historical drawings, survey interviews, and field research, this study employs both quantitative and qualitative text analysis methods to summarize the historical evolution of each phase, delineate differences with domestic architecture, identify factors influencing design, and analyze representative projects.

The findings indicate that foreign aid design prioritizes local adaptation while reasonably integrating bilateral architectural cultures under constrained conditions. According to interview data, the factors affecting design can be categorized into three main areas: architectural ontology, political economy, and regional environment. From 1949 to 1978, foreign aid was largely provided as gift, and although political and economic factors influenced design to some extent, the primary focus was on architectural ontology elements, particularly functionality and technology. During this period, pioneering efforts in tropical modernism and a tendency toward aesthetic elegance in foreign aid design also contributed to the development of domestic architecture. From 1979 to 1999, known as the "rational aid period," the influence of political and economic factors on design strategies increased significantly. Concurrently, the integration of local traditional and modern elements became a standard design strategy, emphasizing the blending of modern and traditional aspects, abstract expression of regional culture in form and structure, and the inheritance and translation of formal innovation and local knowledge. Since 2000, under institutionalized aid frameworks, design strategies have increasingly focused on symbolic, landmark, and diverse regional expressions. These strategies are also evident in engineering practices, particularly in the alignment of design models, specifications, and standards.

This study presents a comprehensive panoramic analysis of CAPBs from the perspectives of geography, architectural heritage, and design, offering new insights into cross-border architectural research. The innovation of this research lies in the development of a relatively complete and reliable sample database of CAPBs, and the establishment of a novel research framework encompassing type characteristics, distribution evolution, driving factors, historical development, and design considerations. Through a rigorous scientific analysis of these driving factors, the study theorizes that China's foreign aid public buildings serve as tangible forms that enhance human survival and development.

Furthermore, from the perspective of architectural transfer, the evolution of foreign aid architectural design in three distinct stages illustrates the dynamic interplay between politics, knowledge, and architectural form. This study enriches the discourse on architectural regionality and modernity and contributes to the multi-level research on Chinese modern and contemporary architecture. By situating Chinese architecture within a global context, this research aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Chinese foreign aid public buildings—from national to urban scales, and from historical to future perspectives. It seeks to fill existing gaps in the study of Chinese foreign aid and architecture and to offer valuable references for future cross-border heritage research and design cooperation.

Date of Award	25 Sept 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	City University of Hong Kong
Supervisor	Tong Cui (External Supervisor), Qiuli Charlie XUE (Supervisor) & Yi LU (Supervisor)