Page 48 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Architectural complex of Yiyang Garden

railings, alongside Chinese-style wooden doors, windows, and its annex building through a literature review and
staircases, and decorative brackets. The overall layout is investigation analysis, as shown in Table 1. The main
more flexible and does not adhere to a fixed style, aligning building adopts the Western veranda-style architecture.
with the 20 -century Western trends that emphasized This style is characterized by spacious corridors added to
th
functionalism and minimalism in decoration. This the south and west sides of the main building, with open-
ingenious design not only reflects local characteristics but air balconies above these corridors. The columns of the
also establishes a distinctive architectural style that merges veranda are Roman-style cylindrical columns, simplified
Eastern and Western influences. and lacking classical decorative elements, reflecting the
Based on field research and data collection, the main influence of the Western decorative arts movement.
buildings within Yiyang Garden can be categorized into Incorporating traditional Chinese style, the outpatient
four types according to their functional use: outpatient building features a wooden pitched roof, whereas the floor
clinics, surgical buildings, inpatient wards, and other structure is a hybrid of brick and steel, a typical practice in
th
ancillary office buildings. Through an analysis of their the early 20 century, using Chinese materials to mimic
layouts, we explored the usage and architectural features Western techniques. The entrance features a round arch,
of both medical and nursing care facilities within Yiyang and the south-facing ground floor is lined with floor-to-
Garden. ceiling arched windows, allowing excellent natural light to
flood the interior. These doors and windows incorporate
3.1. Outpatient building and surgical building Western arching techniques in their structure, whereas
their decorative patterns feature Chinese “coin” symbols,
Yulu (渔庐) was the first building constructed in Yiyang blending Eastern and Western architectural elements.
Garden and on the entire Ersha Island (Lai, 1991).
Initially built as a villa in an official residence style, it Each side of Yulu is flanked by well-designed gardens.
featured a symmetrical layout, large scale, and complete At the center of the southern entrance stands a rockery,
toilet facilities. In 1915, the villa was gifted to Liang and crafted under the guidance of renowned painter Gao Jianfu
repurposed to serve as hospital services and offices. The to replicate the iconic Diantou Stone (点头石) in Suzhou
ground floor functioned as the hospital service desk, (Li, 1986). To the west, a circular courtyard with a stone
whereas the rear part of the building housed the hospital bench serves as the focal point, surrounded by various
offices at that time (Liang, 2008). The entrance hall and plants arranged in a symmetrical layout.
stairwell divide the interior of the building into distinct On the eastern side of Yulu’s main building stands the
sections, systematically connecting the various rooms. annex, which serves as Yiyang Garden’s surgical building.
This article summarizes the architectural features of Yulu This building has a frame design, with imported Western-

Table 1. Analysis of the outpatient building and surgical building
Feature Yulu Yulu’s annex building Canton Hospital Legend
Floor plan 1. Lobby
2. Clinic room
3. Staff room
4. Service room
5. Exam room
6. Stairwell
7. Multi-purpose room
▲Entrance
Founder Two floors Two floors Two floors
Function Villa (1915); outpatient building (1920s) Surgery building Hospital building
Style Chinese and Western combination Chinese and Western combination Western
Room orientation North, south North, south North, south, east, west
Photo

Source: Drawing and photos by the authors (2023).

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2830