The Shanxi Grand Theater: The “Renaissance” of Chinese Drama Land

ThispaperfocusesonTaiyuancity,asecond-tierChinesecitywithabrillianthistorythat had been gradually reduced to mediocrity. When an ambitious governor took office, he planned to carry out an urban revitalization process in which cultural facilities would become symbols of power and represent the city’s identity or define its character. The importation of western-style architecture and urban design for the performing arts offer a way out. The ‘perfect copies’ of European lifestyle, through the way of architectural, urbanism transplant, seemed to serve as a potent symbol of China authority’s ability to control and rearrange the worldwide intelligence for their citizen. The authors investigated Taiyuan and its performance spaces, examine the Shanxi Grand Theatre in terms of designs, layouts and uses, expectations, and disappointments in spatial terms both within and in relation to urban spaces, which epitomized China’s strategy on balancing the elite cultural monuments and social welfare

Shennan Road and the Modernization of Shenzhen Architecture

Shenzhensetsanexampleforrapiddevelopmentofurbanplanningandconstruction.It was the starting point of the most massive city-construction movement in contemporary China. In less than 40 years, many representative urban space and buildings on the mainmast-west highway—-ShennanRoad,have witnessed the for mation of the banded multi-center structural layout and the miraculous expansion of the city. Many of those iconic buildings are designed by Hong Kong or foreign architects. With the continuous development of the length and width of Shennan road, its broad and prosperous image is not only a symbol of the fruits of reform and opening up in Shenzhen or even China, but also contains the growth history of Shenzhen’s architectural modernization. This paper reviews and summarizes the changes of the urban fabric and the design trend of representative buildings along with the Shennan Road in different periods by the historical research methods. Combined with the transfer path of the city center, this study analyzes what kind of unique role the street and buildings act as in the developmentofurbanstructureinShenzhen,and expound what other urban functions and symbolic meaning they have. In the context of globalization, this article discusses how do the buildings designed by foreign architects change our city,thedrivenfactors behind the phenomenon of the design trend change. This research can make a supplement to the history and theory of the modernization of contemporary Chinese architecture

The Changing Shopping Space in Georgia: The Influence from the Chinese ‘Belt and Road Initiative’

The Caucasus region is where the east meets the west and is known as an area in whichconflictsandopportunitiesoccursimultaneously.Thedevelopmentofthisregion used to be constricted by its geographic and political conditions. However, due to advancements in transport and the dissolution of Soviet Union, the Caucasus region has become a strategic region for development. ThisresearchfocusesonGeorgiainCaucasusduetothecountry’sintimaterelationships with many European and Asian countries. In addition, China announced that it will invest more infrastructure and capital in Georgia. Due to the influence of the Chinese ‘BeltandRoadInitiative’(B&R),Georgiaiscurrentlyundergoingmanychanges,despite discussions focusing on political or economic perspectives. With the global free market and the Chinese ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, Georgia seeks to increase its economic development. Shopping space is one of the most affected spaces of development. Attributes such as the placement of shops can be analysed to indicate the change of internal public space, as shops become very Chinese style and the traditional Georgian shopping spaces gradually disappear due to the constant chasing of cash flows. As a pilot study, this research hopes to uncover potentials and threats of shopping space development in Georgia, and it aims to discover the underlying principles for the changes. Mapping and case studies are employed in the investigation. The research hopes to contribute to a healthy urban development by finding the balance between economic and spatial development

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Hong Kong architecture 1945-2015: from colonial to global

This book focuses on the transformation from colonial to global – the formation, mechanism, events, works and people related to urban architecture. The book reveals hardships the city encountered in the 1950s and the glamour enjoyed in the 1980s. It depicts the public and private developments, and especially the public housing which has sheltered millions of residents. The author identifies the architects practising in the formative years and the representatives of a rising generation after the 1980s. Suffering from land shortage and a dense environment, the urban development of Hong Kong has in the past 70 years met the changing demands of fluctuating economic activities and a rising population. Architecture on the island has been shaped by social demands, the economy and technology. The buildings have been forged by the government, clients, planners, architects, many contractors and end-users. The built environment nurtures our life and is visual evidence of the way the city has developed. Hong Kong is a key to East Asia in the Pacific Era. The book is a must-read for a thorough understanding the contemporary history and architecture of this oriental pearl. Endorsement: “MTR’s Kowloon Station project offered my firm the unique opportunity to contribute to a new type of fully integrated three dimensional transport mega-structure, conceived as a well-connected place for people to live, work and play.Through Charlie Xue’s book, one can see how a compact city works and high density integrated development indicates a sustainable path for modern city making.” Sir Terry Farrell<, CBE, Principal, Farrells "Well researched and refreshingly well structured, Charlie Xue's latest book comprehensively shows how Hong Kong's post-war urban architecture both tracks and symbolizes the former British colony's rise to success - a must read for architecture and culture buffs alike." Peter G. Rowe, Raymond Garbe Professor of Architecture and Urban Design, Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor. “An essential addition to the growing literature on Chinese architecture, the title of the book belies the full scope of Xue’s extensive history. Covering Hong Kong’s postwar transition from defeated colony to Pacific Age power house, Xue expertly traces the evolution of the city’s ambitious and innovative programs of integrated high density urban design and infrastructure, as well as changing architectural fashions.” Professor Chris Abel, author of Architecture and Identity, Architecture, technology and process and The Extended Self

Climate, standard and symbolization: critical regional approaches in designs of China-aided stadiums

Since the late 1950s, China has exported numbers of construction aid projects, among which stadiums occupy a considerable proportion and stand out from other types of China-aided buildings due to their unique qualities. These large-scale projects are located in different geographical and cultural contexts. Critical regionalism has been an influential architectural approach in designs of China-aided stadiums. Through a detailed analysis of case projects, site investigation, first-hand materials, and interviews with designers, the authors aim to explore and highlight critical regional approaches in designs of China-aided stadiums. Three categories of design approaches are revealed: bio-climate, standard-adaptive and symbol-oriented approaches. What design approaches Chinese architects prefer to use at different times and under different conditions, and what can be achieved by using such approaches are also explored. This paper tries to supplement the current scholarship on Chinese architecture

Investigation into the Model of Campus and Learning Spaces Therein to Serve the Purpose of Urban Higher Education Institutions – Phase 1

The emergence of the knowledge-driven economic structure reshapes the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) against the background of social development. HEIs have long served as the most important source of knowledge and intelligence to a city, and they are now demanded more than their traditional role solely in education and research.This givesrise toa newmodel of HEIs, namely“UrbanHigher Education Institutions (UHEIs)”, which is to enable intense interactions between a HEI and its host city by means of campus location. This research is aimed to contribute to the body of knowledge on architectural typology by investigation into the design of campus and learning spaces therein for UHEIs which can serve the needs of a city driven by the knowledge economy. A recommended model considering a list of design parameters is expected to be developed which underpins the design paradigm for addressing the given condition of high-density urban environment in Hong Kong

Shennan Road and the Modernization of Shenzhen Architecture

Shenzhensetsanexampleforrapiddevelopmentofurbanplanningandconstruction.It was the starting point of the most massive city-construction movement in contemporary China. In less than 40 years, many representative urban space and buildings on the mainmast-west highway—-ShennanRoad,have witnessed the for mation of the banded multi-center structural layout and the miraculous expansion of the city. Many of those iconic buildings are designed by Hong Kong or foreign architects. With the continuous development of the length and width of Shennan road, its broad and prosperous image is not only a symbol of the fruits of reform and opening up in Shenzhen or even China, but also contains the growth history of Shenzhen's architectural modernization. This paper reviews and summarizes the changes of the urban fabric and the design trend of representative buildings along with the Shennan Road in different periods by the historical research methods. Combined with the transfer path of the city center, this study analyzes what kind of unique role the street and buildings act as in the developmentofurbanstructureinShenzhen,and expound what other urban functions and symbolic meaning they have. In the context of globalization, this article discusses how do the buildings designed by foreign architects change our city,thedrivenfactors behind the phenomenon of the design trend change. This research can make a supplement to the history and theory of the modernization of contemporary Chinese architecture