Beijing's Drum and Bell Towers area

Abstract

THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE CONCEPT IS A BROAD TOPIC THAT COVERS CONSERVATION OF BOTH NATURAL AND MAN-MADE LANDSCAPES. AS ONE OF THE FIRST NATIONS TO FOCUS ON THIS AREA OF STUDY, THE UNITED STATES HAS SET MANY PRECEDENTS. YET AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONCEPT OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPES HAS ALSO BEEN DISCUSSED INTERNATIONALLY; NUMEROUS COUNTRIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CRAFTED GUIDELINES REGARDING DEVELOPING CULTURAL LANDSCAPES. THREE CASE STUDIES LOCATED IN TWO WESTERN COUNTRIES AND IN CHINA HAVE BEEN REVIEWED TO ASSIST IN INFORMING A PROPOSED REDESIGN FOR THE DRUM AND BELL TOWERS AREA IN CENTRAL BEIJING. THIS THESIS ASKS THE FOLLOWING BROAD QUESTION: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO INTERPRET THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF A SITE TO IMPROVE EXPOSURE OF ITS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE WHILE PROPOSING COMPATIBLE DESIGN? A PROPOSED CONCEPTUAL DESIGN INTEGRATES AESTHETICS WITH PRESERVATION AND REINVIGORATION PRINCIPLES THAT ARE THEN APPLIED TO THE DESIGN SITE.