History about great wall

[manuzec]

Hello, i'm a student of architecture, now i'm going to be graduated with a thesis where Great Wall is very important. In particular, I still planning the new pedestrian walkway in Huang Hua Cheng (little west lake) in Huairou district. I need some information about this beautiful area (Xiao Xi Hu). Maybe someone of you can give me some help about! In particular, for the project, is very important to know the history of this site! Maybe you can tell me where i can find informations about!
It's a pleasure and an honour for me to plan in this place, so I want to do this in the best way.

Thanks a lot for the help
Many regards

Manu

[Bryan]

Hi Manu,

We have some material on Xiaoxihu / Xishuiyu here, but not much historical information. I suspect most historical information on the area is in Chinese. Maybe some of our Chinese members would know something about the area's history.

Your project sounds interesting! In fact, when I was at the Xishuiyu Great Wall last year, they were working on the walkway on the north side of the lake. And another walkway on the south side of the lake that was described as unpaved in a book I had read was in fact paved. It truly is a beautiful area with the large reservoir and many trees including a Ming Dynasty chestnut tree field.

[FreddyMusic]

China architecture follows a kind of "Feng Shui" (Wind and Water). It's a kind of philosophy development mixed with science and religions.
If a place has both mountain and lake, Chinese regards it a good place. Usually, the Ming wall is built on the top of mountain to have best guard view.

I had a look at forum Google Earth map, the profile of Xiaoxihu wall seems quite like the profile of south lake bank. If my guess is right. That means every position on the wall is equal and good view point to the reservoir. (It need to be verified by other members visited this site. )

One question, I thought architecture project is study the building for human to living with. However, the Great Wall is a kind of ancient military defence building where a not so comfortable to live in. Why you select the Great Wall? What is your understanding to architecture projects?

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by FreddyMusic

I had a look at forum Google Earth map, the profile of Xiaoxihu wall seems quite like the profile of south lake bank. If my guess is right. That means every position on the wall is equal and good view point to the reservoir. (It need to be verified by other members visited this site. )

The dam and therefore the reservoir was built after the Great Wall. I don't know how much of a lake there was before the dam was built but probably not much.

[manuzec]

Thanks for your help, your informations are very usefull to start a study on the site! the dam was built after the great wall, in fact, some parts of the acient wall are underwater. I've visited the site last year. I have to design a new pedestrian bridge on the lake, architecture is not only the study of buildings for humans living, but,in general terms, is a study of how build everything, so is stricly connected to history, philosophy and technique. Great wall has this three elements in great quantity, like pyramid in egypt. so i choose it for this matter.
I wish you many regards, thanks a lot, any other informations about philosopy ( for example Feng Shui) or history (for example Ming dinasty) is good accepted.

Thanks a lot

Manu

[chinoook]

Hi Manu,

I am sure you will get tons of good ideas or hints if you keep us inforemed and deliver more and more concretely your ideas. There is a lot of knowledge about the GW and about chinese issues in general and we are looking forward to help your project to get successful.


-chinoook

[andarchen]

Originally Posted by manuzec

Thanks for your help, your informations are very usefull to start a study on the site! the dam was built after the great wall, in fact, some parts of the acient wall are underwater. I've visited the site last year. I have to design a new pedestrian bridge on the lake,...

Manu

There had been a pedestrian bridge on "Xiao xi hu" already ,it could be reference for your new design.

GPS coordinates: 40°24'32.41"N 116°18'0.77"E

[manuzec]

I send some images of my ideas. I've seen the landscape, it is beautiful, with the new bridge we have to preserve it. I designed a structure that go to camouflaged in the landscape, it is very light in opposition to the great mass of the wall, but, at the same time it is very modern and use advanced tecnology to get a dialougue with nature. The pylon is 20 meters high and is divided by eight section,eight i know that is an important number in the popular chinese tradition, but i want to give more details to the project that reflect the chinese culture, in this way your help is very important!
I'm waiting for your opinion





Thaks a lot!
Manu

[Bryan]

Hi Manu,

I have no architectural training so my comments are purely amateur. My first impression is that the bridge is quite beautiful. But after looking at it for a while I am distracted because it's not symmetrical. And the cables must come off the pylon to the left (second picture) for a long distance although they are only anchors. Would it be possible to somehow make it symmetrical? Could pylons be used on both sides? Would a rigid bridge without supports, or a bridge that is just supported from underneath, be possible?

Would it be possible to provide pictures that show not only the bridge but its size and position in relationship to where it will really be located? I think that would help a lot in visualizing the end product.

[FreddyMusic]

Originally Posted by greatwallforum

Hi Manu,

But after looking at it for a while I am distracted because it's not symmetrical. And the cables must come off the pylon to the left (second picture) for a long distance although they are only anchors. Would it be possible to somehow make it symmetrical? Could pylons be used on both sides? Would a rigid bridge without supports, or a bridge that is just supported from underneath, be possible?

Bryan,

Manu's bridge doesn’t have to be symmetrical on both side of pylons from the view point of mechanics and structure.
The weight of bridge are equalized and lifted on the top two main cables on both sides.

While this feeling for symmetrical and beauty is unconsciously natural.
For Example: the golden gate bridge is symmetrical cable-stayed design.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vWVscadDeA...ate_Bridge.jpg

Manu,

Some introduce about Feng Shui is available on Wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui
Feng Shui is a very ancient philosophy in China developed earlier than Ming.
There are no exactly defined what is Ming's "Feng Shui", but what kind of
viewpoint you agree and disagree with the founders and their heres.

In my opinion, Yin Yang and Feng Shui is a kind of early theorem
that looking for balance and harmonics between human and nature.
Wiki list some reference for Feng Shui apply in architecture.

If I was in your shoes, I would go next step and include the landscape
(Lake and Mountain) as a approximate 3D model.
That helps to visualize the entire landscape effect, and then decide
what to do with that linking bridge.