Page 142 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese

Architecture and Urbanism

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Emotive architecture: Design strategies for

urbanization and rural revitalization in China

Na Wei*
Department of Architecture and Environmental Design, Tyler School of Art and Architecture,
Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Chinese Cities of Tomorrow: Computing and Prototyping
Intelligent Forms of Future Urbanism)

Abstract
Taking a specific lens on China’s unique and intricate interplay between urbanization
and rural revitalization, this article traces these dynamics back to the nation’s social-
cultural fabric. It contextualizes the coexistence of urban and rural identities within
the broader Chinese cultural tapestry, underscoring their shared heritage within
a collective consciousness shaped by an agrarian legacy. This culminates in the
philosophical concept of “Oneness of Heaven and Humanity,” the apex of Chinese
cultural aspirations, deeply rooted in the relationship between humans and the land,
and calibrated by a state of harmony. Emotion is not merely a tool for achieving this
ideal but also a phenomenon shaped by it. Through a comparative analysis of two

*Corresponding author: architectural projects – one urban and one rural – this study examines the practical
Na Wei application and influence of emotive architecture. This approach, sensitive to emotional
(na.wei@temple.edu) undercurrents, employs precision akin to acupuncture in diagnosing and addressing
Citation: Wei, N. (2024). Emotive regional challenges. It accentuates the meticulous interpretation of emotional
architecture: Design strategies for resonance, a sensory comprehension of place, and the harmonious fusion of digital
urbanization and rural revitalization craftsmanship with local construction techniques. By positioning architecture as the
in China. Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism, interface between individuals and their broader environment, the study reveals how
6(4), 1606. emotion-centric design can evoke profound emotional responses, foster community
https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1606 engagement, nurture a collective sense of belonging, and contribute to the economic
Received: August 15, 2023 and cultural vibrancy of specific locales. Particularly pertinent amid the significant
Accepted: June 7, 2024 sociocultural and environmental shifts in both urban and rural China, this research
advocates for a reevaluation of architectural practices that prioritize understanding
Published Online: November 12, and addressing the emotional dimensions of space. It offers a strategic framework for
2024
navigating the complexities of modern development in China.
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an open-access article
distributed under the terms of the Keywords: Emotive architecture; Architectural acupuncture; Digital craftsmanship;
Creative Commons Attribution-
Non-Commercial 4.0 International Urbanization; Rural revitalization
(CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits all
non-commercial use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. 1. Introduction
Publisher’s Note: AccScience The processes of urbanization and urban development in modern China mark a
Publishing remains neutral with significant historical transformation. Since 1978, China’s urban population has surged
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional from 170 million, with an urbanization rate of 17.9%, to 920 million by the end of 2022,
affiliations. achieving an urbanization rate of 65.2% (Guan, 2023). This dramatic shift has reshaped

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1606