Toward a Geography of the Globalization of Architecture Office Networks

Abstract

This paper examines the globalization of architectural practice, focusing on the global strategies of architectural firms in relation to those of advanced business services and to the evolving network of world cities that provides the spatial framework for economic globalization. A basic geography of global architecture office networks is identified, and multivariate statistical analysis is used to identify four distinctive global arenas in which architectural firms are involved. In a final section, the implications of these findings for architectural education are discussed.     

当代跨文化建筑传播研究的基础理论述略

20世纪末期以来，全球化和市场化浪潮改变着我们的生活世界，可以说，我国当代建筑设计是伴随着外来传播影响而发展的，有人甚至将其称之为“全球化冲击”。试图运用全球化理论、文化传播理论和跨文化传播理论成果探讨全球化背景下跨文化建筑传播现象，通过阐述这些理论成果的精华，并结合跨文化建筑传播现象进行观照，初步构建认识跨文化建筑传播现象的理论基础。     

ARCHITECTURE AND NATION BUILDING IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION: CONSTRUCTION OF THE NATIONAL STADIUM OF BEIJING FOR THE 2008 OLYMPICS

ABSTRACT: This study examines the relationship between architecture and nation building in the age of globalization, with an analysis of the debates and controversies about the National Stadium, the main sports venue for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The article argues that nationalism, along with the cultural ideology of global consumerism, drives the production of flagship architectural projects in China. The dilemma between nationalism and global consumerism has led state politicians and bureaucrats to opt for a global architectural language to narrate national ambitions. The study reveals the rationale underlying the search for global architecture among political elites in China, as well as its mixed consequences for local cultural discourses and politics.     

经济全球化视角下长三角区域的城市体系演化:关联网络和价值区段的分析方法

伴随着经济全球化的进程,长三角区域越来越纳入全球经济网络,城市体系演化表现出新的特征.从经济全球化的视角,采用关联网络和价值区段的分析方法,揭示了长三角区域的城市体系演化的3个主要特征:①上海作为长三角区域的"门户城市",发挥向外连接全球网络和向内辐射区域腹地的"两个扇面"作用:②长三角区域内部的城市之间关联网络具有层级和地域的双重属性,企业是城市之间关联网络的"作用者":③经济全球化进程中的国际劳动分工导致长三角区域的城市体系正在从以"行业类型"为特征的空间经济结构转变成为以"价值区段"为特征的空间经济结构.     

符号的盛宴：全球化时代的建筑图像生产与批判——后2010上海世博会记

2010年上海世博会是全球性的节日庆典、符号的盛宴和图像的狂欢。图像的视觉直观和大众媒介化使得对于空间的体验、感知和想象依赖于图像建立的符号解释模式。真实与想象之间的差异被消解。图像化的城市和建筑成为设计实践的价值和导向,同时也成为图像符号意义传播的媒介,成为在全球化境况中塑造特异性、创造地方性认同的手段。在这一语境中,建筑生产追求的是交换价值,是视觉消费的表征。     

全球地方化的论述与实践——从台北社区规划师制度谈起

全球化的影响力无远弗届,战后台湾的发展作为被支配的依赖关系的一种典型,移植与认同一直是整个台湾社会的重要课题，对主流文化价值的亦步亦趋,反应在建筑形式的探索上,从现代到后现代乃至解构与极简，本质上仍然只是形式上的移植与转化,反映了殖民母国的文化支配，而另一个系统,来自台湾内在主体意识的觉醒,对于地方主体性的建构,在后现代建筑理论的脉络中,通过建筑实践慢慢形成,而这也是面对这一波全球化冲击的有力回应，这样的取向不只是反映在建筑形式之上,更有意义的是在制度的改变与营建的过程中,积极而直接透过民众参与的民主化程序，以具体的“地方化”面对日益艰难的环境议题。     

Ownership,structure, and performance of architectural firms

With architectural firms, owners are often managers whose characteristics may influence the firm structure. This study investigated the relationships between ownership characteristics, organizational structure, and performance of architectural firms. Utilizing a sample of architectural firms from Nigeria, a questionnaire survey of 92 architectural firms was carried out. Data were analyzed using multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) and regression analyses. A generally low level of specialization of duties was observed even though professional service firms were defined as highly specialized firms. For most of the firms, level of formalization was moderate or high, while level of centralization was mostly low. Results revealed a direct significant relationship between legal ownership form and formalization dimension of structure. In addition, the centralization dimension of structure influenced firm performance. However, no direct relationship between ownership characteristics and performance was noted, although different fits of ownership characteristics and structural variables were observed. The results suggest that principals of architectural firms should match their characteristics with the firm structure to enhance performance in relation to profit.     

Marketing importance and marketing performance measurement of architecture firms in Singapore: an exploratory study

While marketing is a known element of successful practice, architects are yet to be convinced of its full potential. Little was known about the marketing practice in architectural firms in Singapore. Attempts were made to determine the realities of formalized marketing approaches and their importance to architectural firms in Singapore through a questionnaire survey (where 95 architectural firms participated) and follow-up interviews. A total of 34 usable responses were collected. This was investigated using the ‘Architecture Business Development Process’ as a framework, which found evidence to suggest that marketing has been recognized as an important component of architectural practice in Singapore. The results show that the adoption of the ‘marketing concept’ in the architecture profession is still in its formative stages. Architectural firms – and small and medium ones in particular – need to fully capitalize on this area of business knowledge in order to influence, command and understand the market for them to remain financially viable as a practice. Despite little attention being paid to measuring the performance of marketing outcomes, almost all the respondents and interviewees acknowledged its increasing importance. With greater corporate governance, these firms are beginning to realize the significance of marketing, and are evaluating their practices to ride the market for success. This move indicates a positive step in bridging the disparities between architecture practice and design.     

The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright: A Global View

This paper considers a version of architectural globalization that gives voice to other than the dominant order or perspective. Analyzing the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright as global in this way and considering how he incorporated Eastern as well as Western philosophies of building in his work, provides deeper insight into his Organic architecture. In addition, such an analysis makes available an alternative understanding of what global architecture can be. The analytic paradigm in use here considers other architecture as well as other aspects of culture.     

全球化背景下适宜技术的地域性回应和表达

以标准化、普适设计为特点的现代技术，伴随着全球化的进程，对发展中国家的建筑技术带来冲击和挑战，也加剧了全球文化的趋同。该文介绍了适宜技术提出的背景和含义，具体分析了适宜技术对地域性的“物质”和“精神”回应，阐述了适宜技术的表达特点和方式。     

重建全球化语境下的地域性建筑文化

在全球化语境中,地域文化的重建已成为中国当代城市和建筑现代化进程中日益重要的问题,也成为构筑文化认同的标志。地域性与全球化互相冲突却又相互补充,建筑领域亟需重建与现实生活相通的、真实的地域性建筑文化。     

民族风格与现代建筑设计

全球经济、文化的一体化进程,使设计形成了全球语境.中国传统文化博大精深,积淀深厚,中国传统的哲学理念对世界的影响也很深远.从建筑入手,分析传统文化与现代设计的关系.通过案例分析,论述在全球化语境下,民族风格融入现代建筑设计的方法,提出要多角度、全方位地建立多元互补的设计构想,采用多种方式,挖掘传统文化,彰显中国元素,繁荣现代设计的观点.     

Architectural Practice and Education in South Africa: From Local Transformation to Global Participation

The advent of a democratic dispensation in the Republic of South Africa a decade ago has resulted in considerable challenges for the country's architectural practitioners and academics. This article investigates some of the problems, opportunities, and responses of the democracy that has emerged from the repression and isolation of the apartheid era. The effect of local transformations and globalization on South African architects and educational institutions is described, and the need to develop a responsible local strategy to guide global participation is identified and considered.     

透视全球化、市场化背景下的建筑实践

该文从当代的全球化和市场化背景考察了针对全球化影响的建筑主体意识和针对商业主义的建筑主体意识在各种建筑流派和建筑现象中的表现,分析了它们在实践中的不足,由此提出新现实主义实践思想.接着探讨了与新现实主义实践相对应的当代建筑学的新内涵,建构了理解当代建筑现象的理性视角.     

地域——一种文化的空间与视阈

在当代建筑活动中,全球化与地域性构成了一种双向互动,提出了一系列“现代性”问题。有关全球化与地域性的争论似乎不可调和,然而其中却普遍存在着对于这两个概念的误解,这导致我们难于深入地域建筑文化的本质。本文试图对此论题进行深入探讨。     

21世纪初中国建筑和城市设计发展战略研究

本文简要剖析论述了世纪之交世界建筑和城市设计学科发展的七大前沿研究领域和趋势,从中凝练出四方面的关键科学问题,即基于可持续发展思想的城市设计与建筑创作理论与方法、体现主流科技进步的现代城市与建筑设计技术集成和创新、基于信息数字技术的建筑学科科技平台的创新与全球化背景下中国城市与建筑设计的地域化与文化历史遗产保护。论文还结合中国建筑学科发展提出了需要优先开展研究并可能取得突破的领域。     

全球化影响下的中国城市与建筑

全球化对中国的城市规划和建筑界产生了重大的影响,按照通常的概念,全球化是一个以西方世界的价值观为主体的“话语”领域,在建筑领域表现为建筑文化的国际化以及城市空间的趋同现象。全球化不是一元化,而是多元化和地域化的共存,全球化与地域化、多中心化是一种相互依存、相辅相成的关系。全球化对中国的城市与建筑带来的最大影响就是城市化的快速发展与城市规划以及建筑设计领域内国际建筑师的参与,在城市化过程中中小城市逐渐失去了特色。在城市规划和建筑领域,一方面应当继续学习国际经验,另一方面也必须应对建筑文化的国际式冲击,保护并发展中国的城市与建筑的特色。     

浅议中国建筑文化

分析了中国古建筑文化、近现代中国建筑文化的产生及发展情况,研究了中国建筑文化的基本轮廓和其面临的问题,指出在全球化的今天中国应大力发展本国特色的建筑文化。     

Planning urban megaprojects in the Gulf: The international consultancy firms in urban planning between global and contingent

Driven by globalization and market openings, many architecture and engineering firms have become global. By focusing on the urban megaprojects in the Gulf, a particular cultural and political context, this paper argues that such firms have a major role in the rapid urban transformation of Gulf countries and act as transfer agents of an international knowledge in the urban planning domain. However, the transfer is adapted by several context-related char-acteristics, such as local governance, urban knowledge, and regulatory framework. This paper explores the procedural adaptation of these firms to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in terms of internal structure, methodology, adopted tools, and interaction with the context. The level of learning that results from this transfer is also investigated.     

关于“传统与当下”命题的本土建筑创作思考

中国当下建筑受西方建筑文化思潮影响和全球化的冲击,西风盛行,带来本土建筑文化出现历史断裂和临阵失语现象,引发城市和建筑传统文化特征渐趋衰落和消失的危险。通过对传统与当下基本概念的释义,用类比研究的方法进行实例分析,最后对基于“传统”与“当下”语境下的建筑创作展开深入的思考。文章旨在呼唤传统建筑文化在当下建筑中的回归与再现。