On the evening of March 31, the “Luojia Mountain at 90” Anniversary Lecture was held in the new teaching building of Wuhan University’s School of Urban Design to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the university’s official move to the Luojia Mountain campus. Initiated by Assoc. Prof. Zheng Jing, Dr. Liu Wenxiang, the author of the book Luojia Architecture: The Birth of a New Campus of a Modern National University, and Prof. Tong Qiaohui from the Department of Architecture were invited to revisit the history of the founding of WHU at Luojia Mountain 90 years ago and deepen the understanding of the architecture on campus.
Lecturer Dr. Liu Wenxiang (left) and the initiator Assoc. Prof. Zheng Jing (right)
The event started with a special video made by an urban-rural planning student of the Class of 2017, asking the lecturer, “Why was Wuhan University built on Luojia Mountain?” “Why is there no school gate at the entrance of the school?”, “Why are most of the buildings wearing green hats?”, “Why does the roof of the College of Science look like a big ball?” and several other interesting questions, which intrigued both teachers and students.
A graduate of WHU, Dr. Liu wrote Luojia Architecture, the first monograph that systematically compares the construction process of WHU’s historical buildings, which many teachers and students had read or heard of, while in the lecture, he further explained the history of WHU’s Luojia Mountain campus and its process of construction. He pointed out that the architecture of WHU is a typical representative of the “combination of Chinese and foreign elements” in modern Chinese architecture. The planning and construction of the Luojia Mountain campus was a model of international cooperation at that time. He introduced the organizers Cai Yuanpei, Li Siguang, Wang Shijie and Ye Yage, the American architect F. H. Kales, the German architect Richard Sachse, the Chinese American architect Poy Gum Lee, the construction party Shen Zhusan and others. Dr. Liu also described the challenges those people encountered in terms of budget, concept and technology details during the design and construction of the campus, as well as the contributions each of them made in the process.
Dr. Liu Wenxiang giving the lecture
Prof. Tong then added several points on the building materials, structures and construction issues mentioned in the lecture from the perspective of an architect. She pointed out that the completion of every building is a complex process that requires the concerted efforts of different teams. The challenge facing people restoring historical architectural heritage today will be even greater.
After the dialogue between the two teachers, students of different disciplinary backgrounds from the School of History, the School of Law, the School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, the School of Computer Science, and the School of Arts raised many questions. Most of the questions related to the students’ day-to-day experience, the distribution form of the building group and the difference in the roof form, the plight and sentiment of the construction site, the origin of the lime green roof tiles and other specific issues, which the teachers discussed in depth.
Teachers and students listening to the lecture
Finally, Assoc. Prof. Zheng Jing gave a summary. She pointed out that the historical buildings we see on the Luojia Mountain campus today were not created overnight but nearly a century ago by the joint efforts of talented people from different cultures and backgrounds. The buildings on this campus show the process of constant collaboration and innovation, and this is the most important spiritual strength that Luojia Mountain gives us.
The lecture was the first in a series of activities of the Wuhan University Archaeological Institute for Yangtze Civilization entitled “Luojia - The History of Architecture in the Field: A Dialogue between Historians and Architects.” The lecture was not only an academic lecture but also a birthday party to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the historical architectural complex. As one of the most beautiful campuses in China, the architecture of WHU is synonymous with the place where students and faculty study and live, the emotional support of generations of alumni, and an important source of inspiration for design and creation.
Photo by the School of Urban Design
Edited by Li Jing, Qin Zehao, Yin Xiaoxue, Zou Xiaohan, Xi Bingqing, Sylvia
