Page 55 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Architectural complex of Yiyang Garden

Figure 9. The landscape structures and circular walking paths in Yiyang Garden. Source: Photos by the authors (2024).

A B term residents, elderly care, medical treatment, and social
interaction.
In terms of architectural design, Yiyang Garden’s
buildings, while incorporating local architectural
characteristics of Guangzhou, largely adopt Western
villa styles. These two- to three-story buildings are
more spacious and feature flexible, varied layouts. The
Figure 10. (A) The engraved stone and (B) the stone tablet in Yiyang architectural plans and elevations exhibit a freer design
Garden. Source: Photos by the author (2024). approach, emphasizing functionality and focusing on
the organization and integration of different spaces.
wood, fish, and birds will eliminate illnesses” (对竹木鱼 Regarding construction details, most rooms feature large
禽悠然自得者，祛病祛也) in front of the Red House, windows, with a strong emphasis on balconies, terraces,
and a stone tablet inscribed with “Quietness Prolongs and courtyards. This not only ensures excellent natural
Life” (静延寿) on the west side of Yulu. These encouraging daylight and ventilation within the buildings, creating a
inscriptions offer positive psychological suggestions to comfortable recuperation environment, but also provides
patients, creating an atmosphere where the spiritual and diverse spaces for rest and activity, particularly suited for
physical worlds are interconnected, which can indirectly the elderly and patients. In the design of outdoor spaces,
contribute to patient rehabilitation. traditional Chinese practices are preserved. For instance,

5. Conclusion the axial building layout, the design of traditional Chinese
gardens, and the integration of spiritual and physical
Modern sanatoriums in Guangzhou place great emphasis health create a large healing landscape courtyard, which is
on site selection and layout, often choosing locations winding, scenic, and spatially diverse.
adjacent to mountains and/or rivers. Yiyang Garden, In summary, compared to other integrated medical and
situated on a small island in the Pearl River and surrounded elderly care architectures in China since the 21 century,
st
by water on three sides, provides a beautiful and tranquil Yiyang Garden not only absorbs advanced Western
environment ideal for recuperation. In terms of layout, medical technology but also retains traditional Chinese
Yiyang Garden draws inspiration from traditional Chinese healing ideologies to the greatest extent possible. Modern
architectural gardens and axial arrangements but diverges sanatoriums in Guangzhou, represented by Yiyang Garden,
significantly by adapting to the specific site conditions and embody the city’s integrated medical and elderly care.
architectural functions. While an axis is used to organize Therefore, the study of Yiyang Garden holds significant
buildings and establish architectural order, the buildings importance, both in historical research and in exploring
are not strictly symmetrical along this axis. Instead, the the future of medical and elderly care architectures.
focus is on creating a cohesive spatial experience, with
buildings positioned flexibly based on their functions. This Acknowledgments
approach allows for the coexistence of multiple functions
within a relatively small space, emphasizing practical needs None.
rather than the feudal hierarchy of traditional planning. Funding
Yiyang Garden functions as a “healing community,”
where the hospital transforms into a small community. It None.
consists of a group of ward spaces, residential villas, and Conflict of interest
service rooms, forming an efficient medical and nursing
building complex that fulfills the diverse needs of long- The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 13 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2830