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Research Seminar: "Comparative
Study of Courtyard Houses-Mediterranean World, China and Japan"
Date: 4 Oct. 2005 (Tue) 17:00-21:00
Place: Meeting Room B, 25th Floor, Boissonade Tower, Ichigaya Campus,
Hosei University
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"Theory of Space for Courtyard Houses--Comparison
between Ancient Rome and China"
Luigi Gazzola
In
the places where ancient civilization had developed, the courtyard
houses can be commonly found. The focus of the report was the necessity
and inevitability of such residences, from the comparison between
ancient Rome and China.
Walling a city or a residence aims to protect from outer world, e.g., climate
change or foreign enemies. In addition, the wall plays a role in establishing
order, by separating spaces.
Although early residences of ancient Rome had been walled, rooms gradually served
as walls, to become an origin of a courtyard house. Each of symmetrically aligned
rooms had various functions, instead of serving a particular role. A courtyard
house in China also included symmetrically aligned rooms, as well as a clear
axis. As we have seen, the concept of such spatial structure had been shared
by ancient Rome, though it can rarely be found in other areas. In China, each
room has different dimension according to the function given to the room. The
spatial hierarchy in China has been based on Confucian ethic, which emphasizes
to show respect for the elderly and fatherhood.
In ancient Rome, domestic animals and farm tools which had been considered to
be the same level as living spaces, would be separated and arranged outward of
the living spaces. The fire pit was set up in the bedroom of parents; the importance
and symbolism have been constantly given to this room. A shop was built in front
of the house, and an orchard was planted in the back. Two courtyards for a house
became increasingly common; the one near the entrance was for gathering people,
and the other in the back with portico was for the family. It was important to
have a southern exposure; the living room of parents was built on the north side
of a lot. On the west and east sides, the living rooms of children and their
spouses were built. Facing north has been regarded as sinister direction in China,
therefore functions other than living were assigned to the north rooms. As in
ancient Rome, two yards (front and back yards) for a house became increasingly
common in China. The tiny front yard could be approached by making a right-angled
turn from the gate. The front yard was for meeting guests and often had a gate
man. Therefore, the gate between the front yard and courtyard took on the most
important function, as an essential element of North-South axis of a courtyard
house.
The units, each of which is composed by a courtyard and surrounding living rooms,
extend toward the back, retaining the same spatial structure pattern. As we have
seen, the axis and spatial structure in a courtyard house have presented similar
characteristics, but there are differences in the ways of expansion and approach
to a residence between ancient Rome and China.
While analyzing residences and cities in present China, we successfully restored
a traditional large courtyard house located in the residential area of Beijing
with cul-de-sacs and narrow alleyways, by applying architectural typology proposed
by Gianfranco Caniggia. Based on the restoration, we have considered the process
of sharing the space among several families. The Understanding of the characteristics
of an area developed in a manner described above will provide the basis for the
future renovation of cities and architecture.
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[Western
Courtyard House] |
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[Courtyard House
in China (「四合院」)] |
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[Courtyard
House in China, composed by a same spatial structure pattern] |
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[Survey
in Beijing; old traditional courtyard residence has been
restored] |
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