On October 12th, the 28th Contemporary Chinese Architectural Creation Forum was grandly held at the School of Architecture, Xipu Campus of Southwest Jiaotong University. Guided by the Contemporary Chinese Architectural Creation Subcommittee and hosted by the School of Architecture of Southwest Jiaotong University, the forum brought together renowned scholars, experts, and design masters in the field of architecture at home and abroad to jointly explore new paths for architectural creation in adapting to changes and pursuing innovation. More than 200 conference representatives gathered to attentively listen to the wonderful speeches delivered at the forum.
At the opening ceremony, Xia Yufeng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Disciplinary Inspection Commission of Southwest Jiaotong University, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the university. Xia Yufeng pointed out that as a national key university directly under the Ministry of Education, Southwest Jiaotong University has always adhered to the university spirit of "Strive for Excellence and Persevere in Self-improvement" and is committed to cultivating high-quality architectural talents who meet the needs of the times. He also emphasized that the current architectural industry is facing the dual challenges of the wave of digitalization and the "dual-carbon goals", and the forum, with the theme of "Adapting to Changes and Pursuing Innovation", holds extraordinary practical significance and contemporary value.
Academician Wu Shuoxian of the Chinese Academy of Sciences delivered a speech via video. He pointed out that against the backdrop of an era marked by multiple transformations, architecture must adhere to its fundamental mission of serving human health and safeguarding the sustainable development of the environment. Academician Wu emphasized that the primary prerequisite for "adapting to changes" is to uphold the unchanging core of architecture, while the key to "pursuing innovation" lies in activating regional cultural context with modern technologies and promoting the development of architectural practice towards intelligence.
Wang Xingtian, convener of the Contemporary Chinese Architectural Creation Forum, reviewed the forum's development history in his speech. He mentioned that since its establishment in 1984, the forum has always adhered to the tenets of equality, democracy, and pure academics, promoting the prosperity of China's architectural creation and the improvement of its overall level. Wang Xingtian stated that the holding of this forum in Chengdu is not only a tribute to the architectural culture of Southwest China but also an active exploration of architectural creation paths in the new era.
Shen Zhongwei, Dean of the School of Architecture of Southwest Jiaotong University, presided over the opening ceremony.
The keynote speech session of the forum was brilliant. Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, representative of Tsuyoshi Hasegawa Architectural Design Office (Japan), delivered a speech titled "Ambitious Ambivalence", introducing how he addresses these opposing concepts in his designs and proactively pursues the integration of these seemingly contradictory concepts in each architectural work. Sun Yimin, National Master of Engineering Survey and Design, recipient of national high-level talent programs, and professor at the School of Architecture of South China University of Technology, delivered a speech titled "Exploration of Large-scale Complex Urban Projects", conducting an in-depth analysis of strategies for technology integration and system optimization in urban renewal. Kong Yuhang, professor at the School of Architecture of Tianjin University, delivered a speech titled "Return to Simplicity: Interpretation of Chinese Cases", demonstrating the innovative application of traditional architectural wisdom in modern design through specific cases. Li Zhenyu, professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, delivered a speech titled "Black & White and Red & Green: From 'Dwelling Language' to 'Other Architecture'", discussing the regionality and cultural expression of architectural language. This session was presided over by Wang Xingtian and Cui Xu, Vice Dean of the School of Architecture of Southwest Jiaotong University.
In the subsequent roundtable discussion session, presided over by Li Zao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Anhui Jianzhu University, seven experts conducted in-depth exchanges around the forum's theme of "Adapting to Changes and Pursuing Innovation". The experts included Chen Gang, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hefei University of Technology; Zhang Pengju, National Master of Engineering Survey and Design and Director of the Academic Committee of Inner Mongolia University of Technology; Wu Yongfa, Dean of the School of Architecture of Soochow University; Fan Yue, Foreign Academician of the Japan Academy of Engineering and Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Shenzhen University; Xia Haishan, Dean of the Urban Planning and Design Institute of Beijing Jiaotong University; Chu Dongzhu, Chief Architect of Chongqing Design Institute Co., Ltd. and Professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Chongqing University; and Xie Xudong, Vice Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban-Rural Planning of Qingdao University of Technology.
In the academic report session in the afternoon, Lei Zhendong, recipient of national high-level talent programs and Dean of the School of Architecture of Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, delivered a speech titled "Iteration of Architectural Modes and Technologies"; Zheng Yong, Chief Architect of China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., delivered a speech titled "Architecture Measuring the City"; Li Xiaofeng, Professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, delivered a speech titled "Enlightenment from Academy Research: Value Cognition and Protection Thinking of Traditional Learning Environments from the Perspective of Spatial Heritage"; Liu Yi, Chief Architect of China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., delivered a speech titled "Relaxation and Joy"; and Chai Tiefeng, General Manager of Sichuan Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., delivered a wonderful speech titled "Rational Construction: Thinking and Practice of Architectural Design Under Rational Thinking". This session was presided over by Zhang Yingzi and Fu Fei, Vice Deans of the School of Architecture of Southwest Jiaotong University.
In addition, in the afternoon roundtable discussion session, presided over by Wang Shaosen, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of Xiamen University, six experts conducted in-depth exchanges around architectural creation in the context of stock assets. The experts included Lu Feng, Professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Chongqing University; Tan Gangyi, Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Mu Jun, Executive Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Yang Yi, Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Kunming University of Science and Technology; Qian Caiyun, Professor at the School of Architecture of Soochow University; and Feng Tengfei, Vice President and Chief Architect of Zhonghui Elderly Care Industry Co., Ltd.
During the forum, the participating experts unanimously agreed that in the face of profound changes in the architectural industry, it is necessary to actively respond to the current multiple changes and further explore ways to cultivate a new generation of architects who can face the future with ease. At the closing ceremony, Shen Zhongwei made a comprehensive summary of the forum and emphasized the important achievements of the forum in promoting the adaptation to changes and innovation in architectural creation. Finally, Wang Xingtian announced that the next session of the conference will be held at Huazhong University of Science and Technology next year. He shook hands with Tan Gangyi, Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Shen Zhongwei to complete the handover, symbolizing the inheritance and continuation of the spirit of the Architectural Creation Forum and laying a solid foundation for the future path of architectural innovation.
The successful holding of this forum not only provided a high-level exchange platform for the architectural field but also injected new vitality into promoting the adaptation to changes and innovation in China's architectural creation. In the future, the School of Architecture of Southwest Jiaotong University will continue to work with colleagues at home and abroad to jointly explore innovative paths for architectural education and contribute wisdom and strength to the construction of a beautiful China.
