Composition of water-featured open spaces on Chinese university campuses

Abstract

Influenced by traditional Chinese natural philosophy and increasing concern for environmental sustainability nowadays, water has been recognized as an embodiment of cultural identity and a desired component of the campus environment in China. This study focuses on the distinctive element, aims to clarify the characteristics of water-featured open spaces on Chinese university campuses, and tries to provide a typological method to define the presentation of water. From the viewpoint of the relationship between water and other spatial elements, 172 cases are investigated in three aspects: adaption to the site, creation of activity space, and scenery formation. Compositional typologies are categorized, and the characteristics of each typology and their relation to regional and historical backgrounds are analyzed and clarified. These characteristics show the evolution and variation of water-featured open spaces on Chinese campuses and demonstrate that water features can create spatial and scenic diversity with a flexible and adjustable relationship with other building and landscape elements. Furthermore, appropriate utilization of water features in the environmental design should be based on a thorough understanding of both cultural and spatial context.

Keywords

• university campus
• landscape
• water feature
• shan-shui idea
• cultural identity