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W hereas the older generation of architects can essentially be categorized by style, ideas, and method, the generation originating in the 1980s has emulated recent international trends , elaboratin g upo n certai n forms , vocabularies , an d ne w technologies. Speaking a different languag e with different tone s and a different text , they mostly mimicked the Western tongue. Only a few have explored deeper layers of expression that are inherently Chinese. Their projects may be small in scale, but they have gradually won the praise of an increasing number of admirers. Thanks to the strong catalyst o f the open-door policy, they have grasped the opportunities of realizing their "paper architecture," having the advantages of youth and open-mindedness. The ideas and vital presence of this rising young generation of architects are a breath of fresh air sweeping across the country. Their work s fulfil l China' s long-hel d drea m o f bein g connecte d t o th e internationa l architectural community. W hereas the older generation of architects can essentially be categorized by style, ideas, and method, the generation originating in the 19805 has emulated recent international trends, elaborating upon certain forms, vocabularies, and new technologies. Speaking a different language with different tones and a different lext, they mostly mimicked the Western tongue. Only a few have explored deeper layers of expression that are inherently Chinese. Their projects may be small in scale, but they have gradually won the praise of an increasing number of admirers. Thanks to the strong catalyst of the open-door policy, they have grasped the opportunities of realizing their "paper architecture," having the advantages of youth and open-mindedness. The ideas and vital presence of this rising young generation of architects are a breath of fresh air sweeping across the country. Their works fulfill China's long-held dream of being connected to the international architectural community. CHAPTER EIGH T EXPERIMENTAL ARCHITECTURE: THE RISING OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION THE OPE N DOO R AN D TH E OPE N MIN D Chapter Seven describes the prominent architects in China, most of the people who shone in the 1980s and graduated before 1967 . Th e Cultura l Revolutio n (1966-76 ) interrupted the continuous training and supply system of professionals. During those ten years, China's universities stopped takin g ne w student s an d suspende d entranc e examinations. In 1978, on the initiative of Deng Xiaoping, China restored its system of higher education, especially its rigorous entranc e examinations , an d educatio n onc e again became a national priority. In addition to the usual higher education , Chin a sen t scholar s an d student s overseas. Since the 1980s, about 500,000 Chinese students and scholar s hav e studie d an d worke d abroad , man y of them i n th e Unite d States ; sinc e 1995 , more mainlan d Chinese students have studied in the US than in any other country. Students who returned to China after working or being educated overseas brought new ideas and knowledge with them, injecting lif e and vigor into China's building industry. Architects in China have always been burdened by a sense of cultural mission. This sense of mission is driven by a wide range of theoretical discourses and is often fueled by single-minded and extremist viewpoints, such as antiWesternization , Westernization , doctrine s o f "contemporary architecture with Chinese characteristics," or those that stridently oppos e the restoration of ancient forms. Such rigidly held positions can only lead to a dead end, a s show n b y som e o f th e inferio r an d awkwar d buildings that have resulted fro m th e adherence to such dogmatic ideologies . A s on e schola r ha s observed , "China's academic thinking has always been mired in the swamps of classicism or anti-classicism, Westernizatio n or anti-Westernization , a situatio n whic h make s i t impossible to see the horizon or to have a new vision of culture" (Lin 1988). This misnamed "culture" prevents China's architects from graspin g th e spiri t an d principle s o f moder n architecture. The pursuit of Chinese identity results in a kind of bottleneck, stifling creativ e expression. The new generation of Chinese architects described in this chapter has foun d freedo m b y returnin g t o the roots an d basi...

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