Different genes of the same type of architecture
Waterfront dwellings in Amsterdam and Suzhou
J. Shi (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
D. Yerli – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
In the 17th century, both Amsterdam and Suzhou were in a period of rapid social and economic development. When faced with similar water environment and social problems such as conflicts between population and limited land resource, the residents of the two places chose completely different ways to build their dwellings. In response to such differences, this study explores the reasons for the differences between the traditional waterfront dwellings in Amsterdam and Suzhou in the 17th century. First of all, the study describes the social conditions at that time and the development processes of waterfront dwellings in the two places to construct a basic historical framework. Then it interprets the specific differences in the respective relationships between the two waterfront dwellings and the water environment, indicating the objective architectural differences. Next, it analyzes the reasons for forming the specific differences from three aspects which are social culture, lifestyle, natural environment and climate, and reveals the influence of these factors on the results of architectural form differentiation. Finally, starting from the reasons for the differences, further thinking about the current architectural practice is carried out, so as to bring some enlightenment to the readers.