Page 17 - JCAU-5-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Geographical and architectural imaginations

was possible that Chen (1989) had encountered with the Architecture Design Institute, were part of this movement,
university buildings during his 1965 trip, as he mentioned the design of the Friendship Hall in Khartoum, Sudan, by
the campus building in his published notes. Nonetheless, architect Wang Dingzeng and his collaborators from the
Chen would also pay tribute to other Soviet architects Shanghai Civil Architecture Design Institute merits close
such as Viktor Andreyev and Kaleriya Kislova, who had attention. This project, although less well known, was even
designed the Inya Lake Hotel for the government of more elaborately engaged with its site. Not only did they
Burma. The canopy of the Guinea People’s Palace, with introduce new ideas about the huitang architecture, but
its subtle sectional change, was reminiscent of that of the their approach to the site also paved the way for creative
hotel’s design, which was published in Jianzhu xuebao in exploration and formal articulation.
1962, with photographs taken by Chen’s colleagues. On January 4, 1959, China and Sudan established
It was within this dynamic international context of diplomatic relations when Sudan formally recognized the
architectural practice that the palace building was created. sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China. Beijing’s
Chen effectively synthesized a wide range of design non-interference diplomatic principle supported Sudan,
references to produce a delicate wholeness that maintains even in the case of suppression of an attempted communist
a subtle balance in various dimensions. These include coupe which was opposed by the Soviet Union (Large,
the equilibrium between formal lightness and volumetric 2008). This laid the foundation of a positive relationship
heaviness, the interplay between the horizontality of the between the two countries, followed by economic grants
base and the verticality of the central assembly hall, and and technical assistance from China throughout the 1970s.
the coexistence between institutional monumentality and China’s economic and aid relations with Sudan took the
civic accessibility. This formal expression, adapted to local form of barter trade, concessionary loans, arms transfers
climatic conditions, to some extent, drew lessons from the and medical assistance as well as assorted infrastructure
construction of the match and cigarette united factory, construction projects (Dijk & Pieter, 2009). The mutually
whose bulky forms were amended. beneficial relationship which started as early as the 1960s,

Throughout the construction process, which began included bilateral trade agreements for the export of long
in early 1966, just several months before the outbreak staple cotton to China, in exchange for manufactured and
of the Cultural Revolution, and completed in 1967, capital goods, and has continued to trend upward (Ali,
Chinese professionals encountered many difficulties, 2006).
such as language barriers, climate inadaptability, large In August 1970, Sudanese President Jaafar Nimeiry
projects, and tight construction schedules (Xinhua traveled to China, and visited factories, people’s communes,
News Agency Reporter, 1968, January 8). Despite these military and schools in Beijing and Shanghai. He was
challenges, the project progressed smoothly, benefiting warmly welcomed by Chinese leaders and the people
from both Guinea’s political stability and Chinese and (Anonymity, 1970). During his visit, the two nations signed
Guinean builders’ collaboration and dedication. Since an Agreement in Economic and Technical Cooperation
its completion, it has served as an important venue for and a Cultural, Scientific, and Technical Protocol in
national political conferences and international meetings, Beijing. A year later, the United Nations General Assembly
emerging as a symbol of Touré’s regime. For example, in voted to admit the People’s Republic of China, with the
1972, several African Heads of State and representatives support of many developing countries, including Sudan. In
of 25 other countries paid their respect to Ghana’s former appreciation of Sudan’s firm political support of the One
President Kwame Nkrumah, who lay in state at the People’s China policy, China decided to provide Sudan with a wide
Palace. This event marked a special moment in Guinea’s range of construction projects in the form of free-interest
leadership in fighting racial discrimination, segregation, loans. Among these aided projects was the Friendship Hall
and colonialism. In 2008, Chinese professionals renovated initiated in response to a request from Sudan for a much-
the palace in commemoration of Guinea’s 50 anniversary needed multipurpose conference hall.
th
of independence. When Chinese architects started designing the project
4. The Friendship Hall, Sudan: Absence and in 1971, China was still embroiled into the Cultural
imagination Revolution and the design team faced double dilemmas.
First, they had little knowledge of Sudan in general, and
During the 1960s and 1970s, several Chinese architects its architectural culture in particular. But they did know
were involved in designing assembly halls in developing that Khartoum was an extremely hot city in the summer,
countries. Although many influential figures, such as as mentioned in a 1964 article published in Shijie zhishi
Chen Deng’ao and Dai Nianci from Beijing Industrial (Chen, 1964). Earlier articles published in 1960 in the

Volume 5 Issue 1 (2023) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.200